Relief has come to parts of Katsina State after 62 kidnap victims managed to escape from a bandit camp following a decisive Nigerian Air Force airstrike.
According to the Katsina State government, the operation targeted a notorious hideout in Jigawa Sawai, Danmusa Local Government Area, on Saturday, August 16, 2025. The camp reportedly belonged to wanted bandit kingpin, Muhammadu Fulani, whose gang has long terrorized communities across Katsina and even parts of neighboring Kano State.
The air raid, carried out at about 5:10 p.m., forced the bandits to abandon their stronghold in disarray. In the chaos, dozens of captives seized the opportunity to escape. “The victims revealed that the bandits abandoned their camp during the airstrike, which enabled about 62 captives to escape in different directions,” the government’s statement explained.
Out of the freed victims, 12 are currently receiving medical treatment at Matazu General Hospital, while 16 others are being sheltered by troops at the Army Forward Operating Base in Kaiga Malamai. The government confirmed that many of those rescued had been abducted just days earlier, on August 11, during a brutal night attack on Sayaya village by Fulani’s men.
The authorities said troops are still on the ground to consolidate on the operation, monitor the area, and ensure that more victims can be rescued safely. Describing the situation in the affected communities as “calm,” the government assured residents that normalcy is gradually returning.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda praised the gallantry of security forces and promised that rescued victims would be reunited with their families once they complete medical examinations. He also reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting security agencies in the ongoing fight against banditry.
