Troops of Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma have launched a fresh military offensive across parts of Katsina State following the abduction and subsequent death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.
This attack aims to track down those responsible and weaken criminal networks operating in the area.
The operation, codenamed Operation Clean Sweep III, began on 14 June 2026 and is focused on Matazu Local Government Area and neighbouring communities where suspected terrorists and bandits have remained active.
Military authorities said the offensive was triggered by the incident involving the late retired general, who was abducted alongside his wife by armed criminals on 30 May.
The latest operation demonstrates how the killing of a former senior military officer has intensified security efforts in a region that has faced repeated attacks, kidnappings and banditry in recent years.
The objective, as the military maintained,is not only to identify and neutralise those directly linked to the abduction but also to dismantle the wider criminal infrastructure that enables such attacks.
According to the Joint Task Force, troops have since embarked on aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence driven raids, cordon and search operations, and clearance missions across several identified criminal hideouts and suspected terrorist enclaves within the operational area.
Military authorities reported significant activity around the Dikkawa Hills and surrounding communities, which have become a major focus of the offensive.
Troops also carried out clearance operations in Adua, Nasarawa and Karaduwa, areas believed to host criminal camps and support networks.
During the operations, soldiers searched and combed several suspected hideouts. The military said terrorists’ logistics bases and other structures used to sustain criminal activities were discovered and destroyed.
It is believed that the destruction of these facilities will limit the ability of bandits and terrorists to move, organise attacks and maintain operations within the affected communities.
The Joint Task Force said the operation is being conducted in collaboration with other security agencies, sister services and local stakeholders.
According to the military, cooperation from communities continues to play an important role in ongoing efforts to improve security and gather intelligence on criminal movements.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the military reassured residents of Matazu and neighbouring communities that troops remain committed to protecting law abiding citizens and denying criminal elements freedom of action.
The military also appealed to members of the public to provide credible and timely information that could help security agencies locate terrorists and bandits. It assured residents that all information received would be treated confidentially.
As Operation Clean Sweep III continues, the military affirmed that troops will sustain pressure on criminal elements until the mission’s objectives are achieved, with further updates expected as the operation progresses.