Troops and Police Rescue Eight Kidnap Victims in Strategic Kaduna Forest Raid

Nigerian Army troops of Sector 7 under Operation OPEP, in collaboration with the Zango Kataf Police Area Command and local security partners, have successfully rescued eight kidnapped victims from Badurum Kasa Forest in Kauru Local Government Area.

The joint team—which included the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Forest Guards, and local hunters—mobilized at approximately 4:23 p.m. following actionable intelligence. By 5:59 p.m., the team made contact with the criminals, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bushes.

At a Glance: Operation OPEP Rescue

• Date of Operation: January 28, 2026.

• Location: Badurum Kasa Forest, Kauru LGA, Southern Kaduna.

• Force Composition: Sector 7 (Army), Police, CJTF, Forest Guards, and Hunters.

• Outcome: 8 victims rescued unharmed; no casualties among the security team.

Identified Victims and Reunification

Zagazola Makama reports that all eight individuals were rescued without injury. Following a preliminary medical check and debriefing, they were successfully reunited with their families. The rescued victims are:

1. Mrs Rashida Musa

2. Mrs Hafsat Nuhu

3. Mr Zakari Saleh

4. Miss Hasiya Yahaya

5. Mr Ahmed Yahaya

6. Mr Ibrahim Saiba

7. Miss Salma Yahaya

8. Mr Sophan Idris

Security Context: The Battle for Kauru LGA

Kauru Local Government Area in southern Kaduna has remained a high-priority zone for Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP). The Badurum Kasa Forest is a known tactical hideout used by armed groups to facilitate:

• Kidnapping for Ransom: Targeting ordinary citizens for extortion.

• Cattle Rustling: Financing criminal networks through livestock theft.

• Highway Ambushes: Exploiting the dense vegetation to intercept travelers.

The involvement of local hunters and Forest Guards in this operation highlights a shifting “multi-layered” strategy in the North West. By leveraging local terrain familiarity, Sector 7 has improved its rapid response time, as evidenced by the successful interception within 90 minutes of deployment.

Broader Implications

This rescue is part of a series of recent successes for JTF OPEP, which recently reported neutralizing several kidnappers and recovering proceeds from cattle rustling in the neighboring Kaura and Jema’a axes.

While the state government under Governor Uba Sani has intensified community engagement, the persistent threat in Southern Kaduna underscores the ongoing need for these coordinated, intelligence-led forest clearances to disrupt the re-establishment of criminal camps.