62 Kidnap Victims Escape as Air Force Bombs Bandit Camp in Katsina

The Katsina State Government has confirmed that 62 kidnapped victims have escaped captivity following a successful airstrike by the Nigerian Air Force on the camp of a notorious bandit, Muhammadu Fulani. The operation took place in Jigawa Sawai, Danmusa Local Government Area, on Saturday at 5:10 PM.

In a statement, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, revealed that the air raid forced the bandits to flee, giving the captives an opportunity to escape. Of the 62 victims, 12 are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Matazu, while 16 others are in safe custody at the Army Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kaiga Malamai.

Interviews with some of the rescued individuals confirmed that the airstrike triggered panic among the bandits, prompting them to abandon the camp and allowing the victims to flee in various directions. Most of those rescued had been abducted during a night raid on Sayaya village on Monday, August 11, 2025. The gang responsible has been linked to a series of attacks across Matazu, Kankia, Dutsinma, and parts of Kano State.

To counter the increasing banditry in Matazu and Bakori LGAs, the state government has deployed the Nigerian Air Force’s Quick Response Wing to the area. Mu’azu assured residents that the situation remains under control and that further rescue efforts are ongoing. He also pledged that the government will ensure all rescued victims are reunited with their families after necessary medical evaluations are completed.