The Commander of 17 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General MI Ibrahim, has revealed that troops operating under Operation FANSAN YANMA have neutralized 79 terrorists, rescued 290 kidnapped victims and recovered thousands of rustled livestock in a sustained offensive against criminal elements across Katsina State.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with Defence Correspondents, the Brigadier General said the Brigade has intensified intelligence-driven military operations across all 34 Local Government Areas of the State, leading to a significant improvement in security compared to the same period last year.
He noted that terrorist attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling in the state have reduced considerably in the last six months due to sustained military pressure.
He explained that Katsina’s strategic location, sharing borders with the Niger Republic and neighbouring Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa states, presents unique security challenges.
Despite this, however, he said troops have maintained operational dominance through coordinated ground and air operations in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force, other security agencies and critical stakeholders.
According to him, the Brigade’s operational successes are anchored on proactive intelligence gathering, precision strikes and professionalism rather than reacting to attacks after they occur. He added that troop welfare remains a major priority in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s Command Philosophy, stressing that motivated personnel are essential to achieving operational success.
Highlighting recent achievements, MI Ibrahim disclosed that troops also arrested 18 terrorist collaborators, recovered 23 AK-47 rifles, four PKT machine guns and large quantities of ammunition.
Furthermore, over 2,200 rustled livestock and 74 motorcycles used by terrorists were recovered, while new Forward Operating Bases were established at strategic locations to sustain operational pressure.
He described Operation FOREST SANITY IV as one of the Brigade’s most successful offensives, saying it led to the destruction of several terrorist camps, recovery of weapons and logistics, rescue of kidnapped victims and restoration of confidence among farming communities to return to their farmlands.
The Commander also spoke on Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, launched after the abduction of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (Rtd) and his wife. While expressing regret over the death of the retired senior officer, he said the operation successfully rescued his spouse, destroyed terrorist camps, recovered arms and logistics, liberated affected communities and established a permanent Forward Operating Base at Sayaya to prevent the return of terrorists.
Brigadier General Ibrahim praised the contributions of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, describing the outfit as a critical partner in intelligence gathering, community engagement and offensive operations. He noted that the local knowledge provided by the Corps has significantly enhanced military operations across the state.
Other notable strategies adopted include; providing security for major highways, schools, farms and Nigerian Air Force assets by the troops.
He pledged that the Nigerian Army would sustain aggressive operations against terrorists and other criminal groups while deepening collaboration with sister security agencies and host communities. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with timely information to consolidate the gains already recorded in the fight against insecurity across Katsina State and the wider North-West region.