KEY POINTS

• Troops launched Operation Clean Sweep III in Matazu, Katsina, destroying terrorist hideouts and logistics bases.
• The offensive followed the death of abducted retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.
• The military urged residents to keep sharing timely intelligence with security agencies.

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have launched a major offensive against terrorists and bandits in the Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, destroying several criminal hideouts and logistics bases during ongoing clearance operations. The military said the action, codenamed Operation Clean Sweep III, began on June 14, 2026.

An offensive sparked by a general’s death

According to the Joint Task Force, the operation followed the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, whom suspected terrorists abducted alongside his wife in the area. Consequently, the force said it aims to track down those responsible for the attack, dismantle criminal networks and restore security across affected communities.

In a statement on Monday, the Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, said troops have carried out aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search operations and clearance missions across identified enclaves. Moreover, he reported significant successes in the Dikkawa Hills area and neighboring communities, where troops discovered and destroyed several hideouts.

Troops degrade criminal logistics

Furthermore, Danja said clearance operations swept through the Adua, Nasarawa and Karaduwa communities, which led to the destruction of terrorists’ support structures. “During the operations, terrorists’ life-support structures and logistics bases were discovered and destroyed, further degrading the criminals’ ability to operate within the area,” he said.

In addition, the spokesman noted that troops are working closely with sister services, other security agencies and local stakeholders to strengthen security across the state. He reassured residents of Matazu and surrounding communities that the troops remain committed to protecting law-abiding citizens and denying terrorists freedom of action.

Therefore, Danja appealed to the public to keep providing credible and timely information, and he assured residents that the forces would treat all tips confidentially. According to him, troops will sustain pressure on criminal elements until they fully achieve the operation’s objectives, while the command promised further updates as the mission progresses.

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Government confirmed Abubakar’s death on Saturday. The government said he died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while in captivity. Ultimately, the offensive signals a determined military response to an abduction that claimed a senior retired officer and rattled communities across the state.