Kaduna Troops Rescue 10 Kidnapped Women, Recover ₦1.6m Ransom in Dawn Operation

Ten women abducted from their farms in Kaduna State have been rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army, who also recovered ₦1.6 million believed to be part of the ransom the kidnappers were attempting to collect.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama, who confirmed the operation on Friday, said the victims were seized on 29 November at Ungwan Nungu in Sanga Local Government Area. Their abduction triggered days of coordinated search efforts by troops of 1 Division operating under Operation FANSAN YANMA.

Makama reported that the soldiers made contact with the kidnappers at about 6:40 a.m. on Friday, catching them as they attempted to receive ransom from relatives of the abducted women. The troops engaged the gang with what was described as “superior firepower,” forcing the criminals to abandon the hostages and escape into the surrounding terrain.

During the raid, soldiers recovered a fabricated AK-47 rifle, a round of 9mm ammunition and the ₦1.6 million ransom cash.

All 10 women have undergone military debriefing and have since been reunited with their families. Security forces say efforts are under way to track down the fleeing suspects and dismantle the kidnapping cell responsible for the attack.

The rescue comes amid renewed scrutiny of rising rural abductions in Kaduna and neighbouring states, where farming communities remain prime targets for bandit groups.