Troops have rescued 23 kidnapped victims, arrested four members of the Lakurawa group and recovered six rustled cattle in Sokoto State.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the operations were conducted on September 20, 2026.
In Wurno Local Government Area, troops responded to a terrorist attack on Sabon Gari, where armed men invaded the community and opened fire, forcing residents to flee.
The troops engaged the attackers and succeeded in pushing them out of the area while rescuing six kidnapped victims. A civilian who sustained a gunshot injury during the attack was also evacuated for medical treatment.
In Sabon Birni Local Government Area, troops acting on intelligence intercepted terrorists attempting to cross the Sabon Birni–Takatsaba Road around Chabe biyu.
The troops laid an ambush along the suspected route and opened fire after sighting the terrorists, forcing them to flee. They subsequently maintained a strong presence in the area to prevent the attackers from regrouping.
Similarly, troops responding to a distress call along the Isa–Kwanar Isa–Shinkafi Road in Isa Local Government Area engaged terrorists and forced them to retreat.
A search operation that followed led to the rescue of 17 kidnapped civilians. One of the victims, who sustained a fracture, was taken to the General Hospital, Isa, for treatment.
Meanwhile, in Illela Local Government Area, troops acting on intelligence intercepted four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group allegedly transporting rustled cattle from Sarma Village towards Illela.
The suspects were arrested at a snap checkpoint, while six cows were recovered and taken into military custody.
Lieutenant Colonel Danja said the operations demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-led and proactive military action in disrupting terrorist activities and rescuing kidnapped civilians.
He said troops would continue to sustain pressure on terrorist elements while strengthening efforts to protect communities across the Joint Operations Area.
