Two Lifeless Bodies Recovered As Troops Raid Katsina Terror Camps, Rescue Kidnap Victim Held In Chains

June 19 () — The Nigerian Army has recorded another major success in ongoing counterterrorism operations in Katsina State after troops raided multiple terrorist camps, recovered two lifeless bodies and rescued a kidnapped victim who was found chained inside a forest hideout used by criminal elements.

The operation, conducted under Operation CLEAN SWEEP, involved troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group and Quick Response Force, working in conjunction with elements of the 8 Division Special Forces, as part of intensified military offensives targeting terrorist enclaves across Nigeria’s troubled North-West region.

Military authorities disclosed that the sustained operation forms part of broader intelligence-led efforts aimed at dismantling terrorist strongholds, cutting off criminal logistics networks and restoring security to communities repeatedly attacked by armed groups and bandits operating in the region.

According to the Army, the operation entered a critical phase on the fourth day when troops launched a carefully coordinated clearance mission against terrorist positions located in and around the Tuga community in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The mission was supported by real-time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets as well as precision strikes from the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, allowing troops to clear several settlements believed to be under terrorist control successfully.

During the raid, troops recovered a large number of rustled livestock believed to have been stolen by the criminal groups, including 36 cattle, 280 sheep and two donkeys.

Security officials described the recovery as a major setback for the terrorists, noting that cattle rustling and illegal livestock trading remain among the key economic activities financing armed groups and sustaining violent operations across parts of northern Nigeria.

Following the initial success, troops pushed deeper into the notorious Fafu Forest, widely known as a major hideout for terrorist and bandit groups operating within the North-West corridor.

The military said troops deployed what it described as a Relentless Incursion Strategy, moving aggressively into the forest after coordinated aerial bombardments and artillery strikes on identified terrorist targets.

also gathered that as ground forces advanced into the objective area, several terrorist camps and concealed hideouts hidden within difficult forest terrain were engaged and destroyed.

In the course of exploitation operations, troops discovered a hideout linked to a notorious terrorist commander where kidnapped victims were being held in harsh and inhumane conditions.

The soldiers recovered two lifeless bodies at the location, while one abducted victim, identified as Nura Yar’Adua, was found restrained in chains and successfully rescued.

Military sources said the victim was immediately administered emergency first aid before being evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina for advanced medical treatment.

Further post-operation assessments confirmed extensive destruction of terrorist logistics structures, while visible evidence of enemy casualties was observed across targeted locations, indicating what security officials described as a significant degradation of the operational capabilities of the criminal groups.

The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining aggressive counterterrorism operations nationwide, stressing that troops remain fully determined to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and eliminate all threats to peace and national security.

The military also urged citizens to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely intelligence, noting that defeating insecurity requires a collective national effort.

“The fight against insecurity remains a collective responsibility, and together we shall continue addressing threats to peace, safety and national stability across the country”, the Army said.