Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE (OPEP), Sector 7, have successfully rescued eight kidnap victims during a daring raid on a bandits’ hideout in the Badurum Kasa Forest, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The operation, executed on January 28, 2026, was a collaborative effort involving the Nigerian Army, the Zango Kataf Police Area Command, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), forest guards, and local hunters.
According to military sources, the joint security team acted on credible intelligence regarding the location of the camp.
As the troops advanced into the forest around 6:00 p.m., they made contact with the criminals.
Overwhelmed by the superior firepower and coordinated maneuvering of the security forces, the kidnappers abandoned their captives and fled into the deep forest.
The rescued victims, comprising men, women, and teenagers, were evacuated unharmed. They were identified as Mrs. Rashida Musa (19), Mrs. Hafsat Nuhu (18), Mr. Zakari Saleh (52), Miss Hasiya Yahaya (13), Mr. Ahmed Yahaya (14), Mr. Ibrahim Saiba (11), Miss Salma Yahaya (14), and Mr. Sophan Idris (18).
Authorities confirmed that all victims have been reunited with their families. The successful mission highlights the growing effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in tackling banditry and securing critical routes in the North-West region.