Army General Dies; Military Launches Operation in Katsina

The Defence Headquarters Joint Task Force North West has begun a new major offensive called “Operation Clean Sweep III” across Matazu Local Government Area and nearby communities in Katsina State.

Lt‑Col. Aliyu Danja, the Media Information Officer of the JTF North West under Operation Fansan Yamma, said the operation is a direct response to the abduction and death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.

The statement noted that the operation, which started on Saturday, June 14, 2026, seeks to locate and eliminate the bandits responsible for the retired general’s kidnapping and subsequent death in captivity, while also dismantling their operational networks in the area.

It added that troops have already conducted intensive fighting patrols, intelligence‑driven raids, cordon‑and‑search operations, and clearance exercises in identified criminal hideouts.

“We have launched ‘Operation Clean Sweep III’ across Katsina state,” the statement read. “Significant gains have been recorded around Dikkawa Hills, Adua, Nasarawa, and Karaduwa areas, where several terrorist camps, logistics hubs, and support facilities were destroyed.”