Bandits shot Mrs. Amina Abubakar and ran, leaving her behind as Nigerian troops closed in on Monday.
The widow of late Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar was rescued in Tunga Village, Katsina State, after soldiers from Operation Fansan Yamma tracked her kidnappers for weeks. The Defence Headquarters said troops made contact with the bandits during a sustained offensive, and the criminals opened fire on her before fleeing.
"In the course of the encounter, the bandits shot Mrs. Abubakar before abandoning her and fleeing due to the overwhelming pressure from advancing troops," said Maj Gen Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information.
She was rushed to a military hospital and is responding to treatment. The military said it's giving her family full support.
The late Maj Gen Rabe Abubakar served as Director of Defence Information before retiring. He and his wife were abducted by bandits in Katsina weeks ago. He died in captivity.
His death triggered a major military response. On June 14, troops launched Operation Clean Sweep III in Matazu Local Government Area, where the couple was seized. The operation is run by the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma.
Since the operation began, troops have carried out aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, and cordon-and-search missions across criminal hideouts. Lt Col Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer for Operation Fansan Yamma, said hideouts in Dikkawa Hills and surrounding communities were destroyed.
Clearance operations were also conducted in Adua, Nasarawa and Karaduwa communities, where terrorist support structures and logistics bases were taken out.
"During the operations, terrorists' life-support structures and logistics bases were discovered and destroyed, further degrading the criminals' ability to operate within the area," Danja said.
The military is working with other security agencies and local stakeholders to tighten security across Katsina State.
"The operation is being conducted in close collaboration with sister services, other security agencies and local stakeholders whose support continues to contribute significantly to ongoing efforts aimed at improving security within the state," Danja said.
The rescue of Mrs. Abubakar is a rare success in a region where bandit kidnappings have become routine. Armed gangs operate freely in large parts of Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna, targeting villages and highways for ransom.
Maj Gen Abubakar was a well-known military spokesman who served under several defence chiefs. His death in captivity shocked the military establishment and pushed the army to intensify operations in the northwest.
Troops of Sector 2 of Operation Fansan Yamma also displaced suspected Lakurawa terrorists in separate operations, though details weren't provided.
The military has vowed to hunt down those responsible for the abduction and keep up pressure on criminal networks in the region.