How joint forces rescued 44 kidnapped victims in katsina’s rugu forest
By: Zagazola Makama
For years, the dreaded Rugu forest, straddling several North-Western states, has served as a notorious haven for armed bandits and kidnappers. The dense, sprawling forest had become synonymous with fear, but on Aug. 19, a daring joint clearance operation brought hope to families who had lost loved ones to the grip of criminal gangs.
Zagazola Makama gathered that at about 10 a.m. on that day, security forces, acting on sustained intelligence, moved decisively against the bandits.
The operation was the product of painstaking collaboration involving the troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, police, Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Watch Corps, vigilante groups, and air support from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The focus of the raid was Kaigar Malamai, a frontline border community within Rugu forest. According to field reports, the operation was swift and intelligence-driven, catching the armed groups off guard. Bandits’ enclaves were dislodged, their camps deserted, and within hours, 44 kidnapped victims men, women, and children were rescued unharmed.
Among the freed victims were three indigenes of Kano State and 41 residents of Katsina State, drawn from Kankia, Charanci, Matazu, Kusada, and Dutsin-ma Local Government Areas. Their stories paint a picture of resilience, survival, and the enduring trauma of abduction.
The rescued included elderly men such as 75-year-old Alhaji Suleiman Aminu from Rimaye and 70-year-old Sama’ila Ali, who endured captivity alongside infants such as two-year-old Ramlat Rabi’u and four-year-old Aniba Hayatu. The group also comprised teenagers like 15-year-old Maryam Bishir and 16-year-old Fatima Abdullahi from Radda.
Women formed a significant proportion of the survivors. Among them were mothers like 40-year-old Hauwa’u Dikko and her daughters Hadiza and Fatima, aged 20 and 10 respectively, who were abducted together. In some cases, entire families were freed, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the abductions.
The victims were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital, Dan-Musa, for medical examination. Doctors confirmed that they were in stable condition, though many bore signs of physical strain and psychological distress. Afterward, they were handed over to the Chairman of Dan-Musa Local Government for reintegration with their families.
Security sources noted that the operation was not only a tactical success but also a symbolic victory in the ongoing struggle to reclaim Rugu forest from criminal syndicates. Continuous patrols and surveillance have since been intensified in the area to prevent reoccupation by the gangs.
For the victims, their freedom marks the beginning of another journey healing and rebuilding their lives. For security forces, the success demonstrates the power of intelligence-led, joint operations backed by community support.
