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Sixty-two people held captive by armed bandits in Katsina State have regained freedom after military airstrikes forced their abductors to abandon their hideouts.
The operation, which took place on Saturday evening in Danmusa Local Government Area, targeted the camp of a notorious bandit leader, Muhammadu Fulani, whose group has been behind several violent attacks in the region.
The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that the joint air and ground assault disrupted the stronghold of the criminals around Jigawa Sawai, a border community linking Katsina and Zamfara States.
The sudden bombardment triggered chaos among the gang, providing an escape route for the hostages who had been in captivity for over a month.
According to officials, twelve of the freed victims are currently receiving medical treatment at Matazu General Hospital, while another sixteen are being cared for at the Army Forward Operating Base in Kaiga Malamai.
Most of those who escaped were kidnapped from Sayaya village during a recent night attack carried out by Fulani’s gang.
Nasir Mu’azu, Katsina state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, said the state government welcomed the successful operation and was working closely with security agencies to stabilize affected areas.
He noted that the deployment of the Nigerian Air Force Quick Response Wing to Matazu and Bakori Local Government Areas will help to deter further attacks and reassure residents.
Interviews with some of the victims by the Daily Trust confirmed that the captors fled in panic as fighter jets pounded their camp. The victims dispersed in various directions, eventually finding safety with military personnel combing the area.
Authorities described the development as a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry in Katsina, a state that has endured repeated raids on rural communities.
Security forces are continuing their manhunt for Fulani and his men, who remain at large after abandoning their captives.
The state government has urged communities to remain vigilant and pledged to sustain collaboration with federal security agencies in restoring peace to the troubled region.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported at least 35 abductees were killed by kidnappers in Nigeria’s northern Zamfara State, despite families having paid substantial ransom sums for their release, a local government official told the BBC.
The mass abduction occurred in March when 56 individuals were seized from Banga village, located in the Kauran Namoda Local Government Area.
The attackers, described as armed criminal gangs commonly referred to as bandits, demanded a ransom of one million naira (approximately $655 or £485) per person, according to Nigerian media reports.
Read more on Legit.ng – Nigeria news.
