At least 76 people, including women and children, have been freed by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) following a targeted air strike on the hideout of a notorious bandit leader in Katsina State, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The operation, carried out on Saturday at Pauwa Hill in Kankara Local Government Area, struck the camp of a gang leader known as Babaro. According to Katsina State’s Ministry of Internal Security, Babaro was behind last week’s deadly mosque attack in Malumfashi, which claimed at least 50 lives and led to mass abductions.
All the victims kidnapped during the mosque attack were among those rescued, though officials reported the tragic death of one child during the ordeal.
“This air strike forms part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal hideouts, weaken their networks, and put an end to the cycle of killings, kidnappings, and extortion that have plagued innocent citizens,” Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security Nasir Mu’azu said in a statement.
Rising insecurity in Nigeria’s north
Kidnappings for ransom have surged in Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions, where criminal gangs and extremist groups frequently raid villages, schools, and religious centers. Despite repeated government crackdowns and military raids, the attacks have persisted.
Earlier this month, gunmen abducted at least 45 women and children in Zamfara State after raiding five villages overnight. Days later, another armed group killed 11 people and kidnapped 70 in Sabongarin Damri — described by local media as one of the largest abductions this year.
In late July, tragedy struck when 38 abducted residents of Banga village, Zamfara, were executed by their captors despite a ransom payment of more than 50 million naira (about $33,000).
Broader military operations
Saturday’s operation in Katsina was one of two major air raids announced by Nigerian authorities over the weekend. In Borno State, near the border with Cameroon, NAF confirmed it killed more than 35 suspected jihadists in strikes on Kumshe. The insurgents had gathered after launching attempted attacks on ground troops, according to NAF spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame.
