Nigerian Army Frees Late General Abubakar's Wife from Bandits in Katsina

In a significant development, the Nigerian Army, backed by the Nigerian Air Force, has successfully rescued Mrs. Amina Abubakar, the widow of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted by bandits several weeks ago. The Defence Headquarters made the announcement on Monday, revealing that the rescue operation was the result of intensified search-and-rescue efforts by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma. According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the troops made contact with the kidnappers at Tunga Village during sustained offensive operations against criminal elements in the area. The bandits shot Mrs. Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing in the face of advancing troops. The rescued victim was immediately evacuated to a military medical facility for treatment, where she is reportedly responding to treatment. The Armed Forces of Nigeria has assured that it will provide all necessary support to ensure her recovery and assist her family during this difficult period. The military has also vowed to sustain operations aimed at apprehending those responsible for the abduction and other criminal activities. The late Major General Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, died in captivity after he and his wife were abducted by bandits in Katsina State. The rescue came as troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, launched a major offensive against terrorists and bandits in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. The troops destroyed several criminal hideouts and logistics bases during the clearance operations. The military said the operation, codenamed Operation Clean Sweep III, commenced on June 14, 2026, following the killing of Major General Abubakar (retd), who was abducted alongside his wife by suspected terrorists in the area. In a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops had been carrying out aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search operations, and clearance missions across identified terrorist enclaves within the joint operations area. Danja said troops recorded significant successes in the Dikkawa Hills area and neighbouring communities, where several terrorist hideouts were discovered and destroyed. The operation was being carried out in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders to strengthen security efforts across Katsina State. The military spokesman noted that the operation was aimed at improving security within the state and preventing terrorists and bandits from operating freely in the region. In a related development, troops of Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have overpowered suspected Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi State, recovering a cache of high-calibre weapons, improvised explosive devices, and other equipment during a major offensive operation. The operation was carried out on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in the Dogon Daji area of Dandi Local Government Area, as part of ongoing military efforts to eliminate terrorist and criminal elements operating across the North-West region. According to a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 8 Division Nigerian Army and Sector 2 Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce encounter and forced them to abandon their camp and flee under sustained military pressure. Osoba said the troops deployed superior firepower against the terrorists, overwhelming them and compelling them to retreat from their positions. The troops immediately launched an aggressive pursuit operation along the terrorists' escape routes, leading to the recovery of a large cache of weapons, explosives, and logistics equipment abandoned by the fleeing suspects. Items recovered during the operation included rocket-propelled grenade launch tubes, several RPG warheads, multiple improvised explosive devices, two motorcycles used by the terrorists for mobility, battery chargers, and other personal belongings. The troops emerged from the engagement unscathed, with zero casualties recorded.