In a recent series of successful operations, the Troops of the Joint Task Force Northwest, known as Operation HADARIN DAJI, commanded by Major General Godwin Mutkut, who also serves as the General Officer Commanding of the 8th Division of the Nigerian Army, rescued over 18 kidnapped victims across their Areas of Responsibility, which encompass Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, and Sokoto states.
Captain Yahaya Ibrahim, the Force Information Officer for Operation HADARIN DAJI, reported that on September 9, 2023, troops stationed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Anka LGA, Zamfara state, engaged armed bandits in a gunfight along the Anka – Baggega Road, successfully rescuing five kidnapped victims. These individuals had been abducted by armed bandits who had blocked the road while they were transporting goods to Baggega Market in Anka LGA.
Additionally, troops from FOB Hannutara in Zamfara state rescued two victims who had been kidnapped from their farmlands. The captors abandoned them upon spotting the approaching troops during a routine patrol.
Responding to distress calls from locals about armed bandit activities in Danfanmi village, Kaura Namoda LGA, troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI in Birnin Magaji swiftly mobilized and rescued three victims.
On September 8, 2023, troops from FOB Baggega in Zamfara state, while on a fighting patrol, intercepted and rescued six kidnapped victims who had managed to escape from their captors in Gando forest. Preliminary investigations revealed that these victims had been kidnapped from the Mahuta community in Kebbi state and had spent ten weeks in captivity.
He said troops deployed in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara state rescued two females who had been kidnapped during a bandit invasion of their community late at night. These individuals were promptly taken to General Hospital Tsafe for medical attention. All rescued victims were handed over to the appropriate authorities to facilitate their reunification with their families.
Major General Godwin Mutkut, the Commander of the Joint Task Force Northwest Operation HADARIN DAJI and General Officer Commanding of the 8th Division Nigerian Army, expressed his appreciation for the troops’ dedication, resilience, and swift response to distress calls, which resulted in the successful rescue of the victims. He also commended the people of the Northwest for their collaborative efforts in providing timely information to the troops and assured them of the continued commitment and dedication of the troops in ensuring the region’s security.
