Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have rescued Mrs. Abubakar, wife of late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, following a fierce encounter with armed bandits in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Military sources disclosed that the rescue operation was carried out under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, an intelligence-driven offensive launched in Matazu and surrounding communities after the abduction of the retired senior military officer’s wife.
According to the sources, troops made contact with the bandits at Tunga village during a search-and-rescue mission, forcing the criminals to flee under sustained military pressure.
A military source revealed that the bandits shot the victim before abandoning her and escaping as troops closed in on their location.
“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding, we have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” the source said.
The source added that soldiers on the ground immediately administered first aid to stabilise the victim before evacuating her to a medical facility for further treatment.
Military authorities said follow-up operations have since been intensified across the area, with troops maintaining a coordinated pursuit of fleeing bandits and suspected kingpins believed to be responsible for the attack and earlier abduction.
The authorities further stated that the ongoing clearance operation under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III would continue until all identified criminal hideouts within the operational area are dismantled.
Security sources reaffirmed the military’s commitment to restoring security in the region, assuring residents that efforts are underway to track down all those involved in the crime and bring them to justice.
The rescue is regarded as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing counter-banditry campaign across parts of Katsina State and the wider North-West region.