In a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry and kidnapping in Northern Nigeria, at least 62 kidnapped victims have regained their freedom after a successful airstrike carried out by the Nigerian Air Force on a notorious bandits’ camp in Jigawa Sawai, located in the Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The operation, which took place on Saturday evening around 5:10 pm, targeted the camp of a wanted bandit leader identified as Muhammadu Fulani, whose group has been terrorizing communities across Matazu, Kankia, Dutsinma, and even parts of neighboring Kano State. According to the Katsina State Government, the intense bombardment forced the bandits to abandon their stronghold, creating a rare opportunity for dozens of kidnapped victims to escape from captivity.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, the government confirmed that 62 victims managed to escape during the chaos, with 12 of them currently receiving urgent medical attention at Matazu General Hospital, while 16 others are being sheltered at the Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kaiga Malamai. The remaining victims dispersed in different directions during their escape, but authorities have assured that ongoing rescue operations will account for them and ensure their safe return.
Interviews conducted with the freed victims revealed that many of them were abducted during a deadly night raid on Sayaya village on Monday, August 11, 2025. Armed with sophisticated weapons, the gang stormed the community and took dozens of residents hostage. Since then, they had been held in harsh conditions in the camp until the Nigerian Air Force intervention provided a chance to break free.
The state government praised the courage and professionalism of the security forces while assuring the public that the victims will soon be reunited with their families after medical and security checks. It also confirmed the deployment of the Nigerian Air Force’s Quick Response Wing to reinforce security and prevent further attacks in the troubled areas of Matazu and Bakori.
Katsina State, like many parts of Northern Nigeria, has suffered repeated attacks from heavily armed bandits in recent months. In May 2025, at least 19 residents of Gobirawa Community in Dutsinma Local Government Area were brutally killed in an overnight raid by armed criminals believed to have come from the neighboring Danmusa forest. The hoodlums shot indiscriminately, leaving several casualties and devastating families in the process.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has reiterated his administration’s commitment to ending insecurity in the state, emphasizing that no effort will be spared in dismantling criminal networks and restoring peace to all communities. He also urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces as operations continue across hotspots.
The successful rescue operation has renewed hope among citizens that with intensified military offensives, Nigeria can overcome the menace of banditry and kidnapping that has plagued the region for years. For families in Katsina and beyond, the escape of 62 hostages is a powerful reminder that the fight against criminality is far from lost.
Leave a comment