The airstrike, conducted on the evening of Saturday, August 16, at approximately 5:10 p.m., targeted Fulani’s base of operations. Security officials reported that the precision of the attack forced the bandits to abandon the camp, creating a critical window that enabled the kidnapped victims to flee. Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, confirmed the outcome, emphasizing that the operation disrupted the bandits’ network and directly facilitated the release of the captives.
Of the 62 escapees, 12 are receiving medical treatment at Matazu General Hospital for injuries sustained during captivity or the escape. Sixteen others are under the care of military personnel at the Army Forward Operating Base in Kaiga Malamai. Authorities are continuing efforts to account for the remaining individuals and ensure their safe return to families.
The majority of the victims were kidnapped during a night raid on Sayaya village in Matazu Local Government Area on August 11. Muhammadu Fulani’s group has been implicated in multiple kidnappings and violent raids in Katsina and neighboring Kano State, reflecting the ongoing security challenges that northern Nigeria faces in combating armed banditry.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda publicly commended the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies for their swift and coordinated response. He stressed that the state government remains committed to protecting citizens, curbing banditry, and strengthening local security infrastructures. In addition to the airstrike, a Quick Response Wing of the NAF has been deployed to Matazu and Bakori local government areas to prevent potential retaliatory attacks.
Authorities are coordinating with local and federal agencies to reunite the freed victims with their families following medical evaluations. The operation is considered a critical example of targeted military intervention in the ongoing fight against armed banditry in northern Nigeria, which has resulted in thousands of abductions and widespread disruption over the past several years.
Security analysts note that such operations, while not eliminating the threat entirely, demonstrate the increasing capacity of Nigerian security forces to conduct precision strikes and respond to emergent threats. The Katsina airstrike underscores the complex dynamics of banditry in the region, where local militias and criminal networks exploit porous borders and limited state presence to carry out raids and abductions.
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