Security forces under the 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army executed a coordinated operation on Thursday that led to the rescue of eight persons abducted by suspected terrorists while travelling to attend a wedding ceremony near Dabawa, a border community between Kano and Katsina states.

According to the military, the victims were travelling in a vehicle on a highway linking the two states when they were intercepted by armed men.

The assailants forced them into nearby bushland before fleeing upon detection by patrol units.

A statement issued by the Army on Friday confirmed that the personnel acted swiftly on credible intelligence, tracked the suspects’ movement and successfully recovered the eight victims without any casualties.

While details of the rescued individuals’ identities are being verified, the statement said the remaining two abductees are still at large and that ongoing operations are in place to track their location and ensure their safe release.

An Army spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity given operational sensitivity, said: “Our troops acted promptly on actionable intelligence and launched a targeted operation. The eight people were rescued unhurt, and efforts are now focused on rescuing the remaining two abductees and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”

Military Sustain Victories Against Bandits

Residents of communities along the Kano–Katsina corridor welcomed the rescue, expressing relief at the swift response by security operatives.

Many travelers have previously decried the increasing incidents of kidnappings along major highways in the North-West, which have discouraged travel and disrupted social and economic activities.

The Army also appealed to members of the public to continue providing credible information to enhance intelligence gathering and support security operations against criminal gangs and kidnappers.

This rescue comes amid renewed efforts by security agencies to clamp down on kidnappings, banditry and other violent crimes in Northwestern Nigeria — a region that has witnessed repeated abductions and clashes between armed groups and security forces over the past years.