By Deborah Nnamdi
At least 62 abducted individuals, including women and children, have regained their freedom after escaping from a bandits’ camp in Katsina State, following a successful airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The operation, carried out Saturday afternoon at approximately 5:10 p.m., targeted the hideout of a notorious bandit leader, Muhammadu Fulani, in the Jigawa Sawai community of Danmusa Local Government Area, near the Zamfara State border.
According to Dr. Nasir Muazu, Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, the airstrike forced the bandits to abandon their camp, allowing the captives to escape in various directions. “It is noteworthy that 12 of the victims are currently receiving treatment at Matazu General Hospital, while 16 others are in the custody of military operatives at the Army Forward Operating Base in Kaiga Malamai,” the commissioner said.
Initial interviews with the rescued victims confirmed that they fled the camp in the aftermath of the airstrike. Most of them were kidnapped from Sayaya village during a night raid on Monday, August 11, 2025, by Fulani’s gang, which has been linked to multiple attacks across Matazu, Kankia, Dutsinma, and parts of Kano State.
In response to persistent attacks in Matazu and Bakori LGAs, the Katsina State Government has deployed the Nigerian Air Force’s Quick Response Wing to restore security in the affected areas.
Security forces continue to monitor the situation for further rescue operations. Authorities say the general security condition in the area is currently calm.
The Katsina State Government has assured families that the rescued victims will be reunited with their loved ones after necessary medical assessments are completed. Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda praised the security forces for their bravery and reiterated his administration’s commitment to ending banditry in the state.
