Troops Rescue Six FUDMA Students, Driver From Kidnappers in Katsina

Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued seven people, including six students of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA) and a commercial driver, after they were abducted by armed assailants in Katsina State.

The victims were rescued following a military response to a distress call over an attack on a commercial vehicle travelling from Kaduna to Katsina along the Daye–Malumfashi road in Danmusa Local Government Area.

The Deputy Director of Information, Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, 8 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Monday.

Troops Respond to Distress Call

Osoba said troops received the distress call on the evening of September 21, 2026, reporting that armed assailants had attacked the vehicle and abducted its occupants.

According to him, the troops swiftly mobilised to the area and their intervention forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and flee. He said all seven victims were subsequently rescued unhurt.

“Following the preliminary security profiling and necessary medical evaluations, the rescued individuals were safely handed over to designated officials to facilitate their safe reunion with their families and school authorities,” Osoba said.

Victims Undergo Security Checks

The rescued students and the driver were subjected to preliminary security profiling and medical evaluation after their recovery, according to the military.

The measures were carried out before the victims were handed over to designated officials for further coordination with their families and the university authorities.

The incident comes amid continuing military operations against kidnapping and other forms of criminal activity across the North-West.

Operation FANSAN YAMMA Intensifies Operations

Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA has continued operations against armed groups in Katsina and neighbouring states. In May, troops reported engagements with terrorists in Dutsin-Ma and other areas of Katsina, alongside operations in Zamfara State.

The latest rescue adds to the military’s ongoing efforts to respond to kidnapping incidents and disrupt the activities of armed groups operating across the region.