Nigerian army frees four kidnapping victims in Zamfara and Kebbi

Rescue operations in Zamfara On 21 October 2026, troops from the 8th Division’s Sector 2 of Operation Fansan Yamma conducted a raid in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The operation freed two civilians – a 25‑year‑old man and a 49‑year‑old woman – who had been held on a farmland in the Binoni Marafa area. The soldiers acted after receiving intelligence about a suspected terrorist movement with the hostages across a river on the farm.

Rescue operations in Kebbi A separate mission later the same day took place between the towns of Bena and Sawade in Kebbi State. Here, the army retrieved a 35‑year‑old man and a 41‑year‑old woman who were believed to have been moved by suspected terrorists from Dupindu Village in the Kanya District of Danko‑Wasagu Local Government Area. After their release, the victims were handed over to the local traditional authority, the Seriki of Dipindu.

Military statements and ongoing patrols Lt Col Olaniyi Osoba, the spokesperson for the 8th Division’s Sector 2, confirmed the rescues and said they were part of a broader strategy to intensify patrols and surveillance across the region. He noted that the army continues to deny criminal elements freedom of movement and to protect lives and property in communities affected by kidnapping and related violence.

Wider security context The successful operations are being presented by the army as evidence of Operation Fansan Yamma’s sustained effort to combat terrorism and kidnapping in north‑west Nigeria. Officials highlighted that intelligence‑led actions, such as the ones on 21 October, are central to disrupting criminal networks and restoring a measure of stability to the affected states.

Implications for the region While the immediate outcome was the safe release of four individuals, the incidents underscore the persistent security challenges in Zamfara and Kebbi. The military’s emphasis on intensified patrols suggests a continued focus on pre‑emptive actions to prevent further abductions and to reassure local populations of state protection.