Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have rescued two kidnapped victims and recovered 94 rustled livestock following a series of operations against terrorists in Kaduna and Kano states, military authorities have disclosed.

The operations, carried out between Tuesday and Wednesday, also led to the disruption of criminal activities in several communities, although one kidnapped victim tragically lost his life after sustaining gunshot wounds during captivity.

Details of the operations were contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Joint Task Force North-West through its Media Information Officer, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Danja.

According to the task force, one of the operations took place in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where troops of Sector 1 were conducting a clearance mission when they came under an attempted ambush by suspected terrorists.

The soldiers reportedly responded with overwhelming firepower, forcing the attackers to retreat into nearby hideouts. A motorcycle believed to belong to the fleeing terrorists was recovered during a follow-up search of the area.

In a separate mission, troops were mobilised after receiving intelligence about the abduction of three residents and the rustling of livestock around Hayin Babangida in Igabi Local Government Area.

Acting swiftly on the information, the troops tracked the kidnappers and engaged them in a confrontation, leading to the rescue of two female victims.

Military authorities said the rescued women were safely reunited with their families shortly after the operation.

However, the third victim, a male, was not as fortunate. He reportedly suffered gunshot injuries inflicted by the abductors and died while being transported for emergency medical treatment.

The task force described the development as unfortunate but reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing criminal elements responsible for attacks on communities across the region.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Kano State, troops launched another operation following reports that armed criminals had invaded a community in Gwarzo Local Government Area and made away with a large number of livestock.

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The soldiers pursued the suspects and engaged them as they attempted to escape with the stolen animals.

Faced with military pressure, the attackers abandoned the livestock and fled the area.

Subsequent search operations conducted on Wednesday led to the recovery of additional animals, bringing the total number of recovered livestock to 94.

The recovered animals included 57 cows and 37 sheep.

Military authorities said the livestock were later handed over to their rightful owners in the presence of security officials and representatives of the local government.

The Joint Task Force said the successes recorded in the operations reflected its resolve to sustain offensive actions against terrorists, bandits and other criminal groups operating in the North-West.

It added that troops would continue to intensify intelligence-led operations, aggressive patrols and rapid-response missions aimed at protecting communities and safeguarding livelihoods.

The task force also commended residents for providing useful information that contributed to recent successes and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue sharing credible intelligence with security agencies.

According to the military, community cooperation remains critical to ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restore lasting peace across the region.