SIX kidnap victims, including four women and two young boys, have regained their freedom after escaping from bandits and being rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army’s 17 Brigade during a routine patrol in Katsina State.
The victims were discovered on Monday, June 29, while wandering through a forest near Unguwan Doka in Faskari Local Government Area after fleeing their abductors.
In a statement released yesterday, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 17 Brigade, Captain Abayomi Adisa, identified the rescued victims as Umaima Isiaku, 30; Amina Isiaku, 16; Safiya Isiaku, 15; Ramatu Suleiman, 30; Muhammad Shehu, 4; and Ibrahim Suleiman, 2.
According to the Army, preliminary investigations revealed that the victims had been abducted by armed bandits from Unguwan Lado in Kankara Local Government Area on June 22, 2026.
The military explained that troops conducting a routine foot patrol intercepted the victims shortly after they escaped from captivity.
The statement noted that the soldiers immediately provided first aid, food and other essential support before reuniting them with their families.
Commander of the 17 Brigade, Brigadier General Ishaya Ibrahim, reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining operations against criminal elements across the state.
He stated that the brigade would continue its aggressive campaign to combat banditry and other security threats while ensuring the protection of lives and property within its area of responsibility.
The rescue forms part of ongoing military efforts to curb banditry and restore security across Katsina State and the wider North-West region.
