A group of soldiers in Katsina State successfully rescued 35 kidnap victims from terrorist camps located around Batsari Local Government Area on Sunday.

Among the rescued individuals, 31 had been abducted a week earlier in Tashar Nagulle, while the remaining four had been kidnapped at different times.

The joyous mood was palpable among residents of local communities in western Batsari as the soldiers emerged from the outer forest, which connects to the Rugu forest. Yusuf Mamman-Ifo, the Chairman of Batsari Local Government, expressed his happiness with the development and confirmed that the rescued victims were in good health.

Mamman-Ifo attributed the success of the operation to prayers and the support provided by the state governor and security agents. He commended the soldiers from the military formation in the area for their commendable work and pledged to continue providing them with intelligence information.

Maryam Nagulle, one of the freed captives, shared her harrowing experience of being abducted with several others from their community. She described how they were taken to the terrorists’ camp in the forest, where they were locked in a single room. The abductees heard gunshots as the soldiers approached, prompting the terrorists to flee. The soldiers then instructed them to follow and led them to safety.

While the soldiers involved in the operation declined to speak to journalists, the spokesperson of the 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Oliza Ethinlaiye, did not respond to an SMS seeking comment.

Recently, terrorists have been targeting military formations and communities in Batsari and Jibia local government areas, leading to heightened security concerns in the region. However, the successful rescue operation serves as a testament to the dedication and bravery of the soldiers in countering these threats.