Katsina, Nigeria – Troops of the Nigerian Army operating under Operation FANSAN YANMA have rescued Mrs. Abubakar, wife of the late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, following a fierce encounter with armed bandits in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The development was disclosed by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, in an exclusive report published on his official X account on Monday night.

According to the report, the rescue was carried out during Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, an intelligence-driven military offensive launched in Matazu and surrounding communities following the abduction of the retired senior officer’s wife.

The operation reportedly involved coordinated efforts by troops to track down the kidnappers and dismantle their hideouts in the area. During the offensive, security forces engaged the bandits in a deadly confrontation, leading to the successful rescue of Mrs. Abubakar.

The rescue comes amid heightened security operations across parts of Katsina State, where military authorities have intensified efforts to combat banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities threatening communities.

Although details of the encounter and the condition of Mrs. Abubakar were not immediately available, the operation is being viewed as a significant breakthrough in ongoing efforts to curb insecurity in the North-West region.

The abduction of Mrs. Abubakar had attracted widespread concern following the recent death of her husband, retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, whose ordeal in the hands of bandits sparked renewed calls for stronger measures against criminal groups operating in the region.

Military authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the rescue operation as of the time of filing this report.