Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have rescued Amina Abubakar, the wife of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe, who was abducted alongside her husband by bandits in Katsina.
The rescue followed a fierce encounter between troops and armed bandits during a search-and-rescue operation in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.
Military sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, a sustained offensive launched after the abduction of the retired senior military officer and members of his family.
According to the sources, troops acting on credible intelligence conducted coordinated operations across Matazu and adjoining communities, targeting known bandit enclaves and escape routes.
The breakthrough came when soldiers made contact with the kidnappers at Tunga village, forcing the criminals to abandon their captive and flee under intense military pressure.
“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding, we have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” a military source disclosed.
The source said troops immediately stabilised the rescued victim at the scene before being evacuated to a medical facility for comprehensive treatment.
The development comes days after retired Major General Abubakar Rabe reportedly lost his life while in captivity, sparking outrage and renewed calls for intensified military action against bandit groups operating in the North-West.
Military authorities said follow-up operations have been intensified, with troops maintaining pressure on fleeing bandits and suspected kingpins believed to be responsible for the abduction and subsequent killing of the retired general.
Security sources added that the ongoing clearance operation under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III would continue until all identified criminal hideouts in the area are dismantled.
They reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces and other security agencies to tracking down those responsible for the attack and ensuring they face justice.
The Nigerian military has in recent weeks stepped up coordinated air and ground offensives against bandit strongholds across Katsina and neighbouring states as part of efforts to curb kidnapping, cattle rustling and other violent crimes in the region.
