Six persons abducted by armed bandits in Katsina State have regained their freedom after escaping from captivity and being found by troops of the Nigerian Army during a routine patrol in a forested area of Faskari Local Government Area.
The Nigerian Army disclosed that the rescue was carried out on Monday by troops of the 17 Brigade operating in Unguwan Doka, where the victims were discovered wandering through the forest after fleeing from their captors.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Captain Abayomi Adisa, said the troops encountered the escapees while conducting a routine foot patrol aimed at maintaining security within the area.
According to the military, preliminary investigations revealed that the victims had been abducted by armed bandits from Unguwan Lado in Kankara Local Government Area on June 22, 2026, before managing to break free from captivity and seek safety.
The rescued victims were identified as Mrs. Umaima Isiaku, 30; Amina Isiaku, 16; Safiya Isiaku, 15; Ramatu Suleiman, 30; Muhammad Shehu, 4; and Ibrahim Suleiman, 2.
Army authorities stated that the troops immediately administered first aid to the victims and provided them with food and other essential support before reuniting them with their families.
The Commander of the 17 Brigade, Brigadier General Ishaya Ibrahim, reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining offensive operations against criminal groups operating across Katsina State.
He said the brigade remained resolute in intensifying actions against armed bandits while ensuring the protection of lives and property within its area of responsibility.
The latest rescue comes against the backdrop of persistent insecurity across Nigeria’s North-West, where armed groups have continued to carry out kidnappings, killings and cattle rustling despite ongoing military operations.
Katsina State, particularly communities within Kankara, Faskari and neighbouring local government areas, has repeatedly come under attack from bandit groups that exploit vast forest corridors as operational bases, leaving residents vulnerable to violence and displacement.
Although the successful escape and rescue of the six victims have brought relief to their families, the incident once again underscores the enduring challenge of insecurity confronting rural communities and the urgent need to dismantle criminal networks that continue to terrorise large swathes of the region.
For the survivors, the journey from captivity to freedom marks the end of a traumatic chapter. For many others still in the hands of kidnappers, however, the hope of rescue and safe return remains a daily prayer.