Nigerian troops have rescued 364 abductees in separate operations in Katsina and Borno states, as security forces intensify operations against bandits and Boko Haram insurgents across Northern Nigeria. The rescues came as President Bola Tinubu approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Katsina State to strengthen security in forested areas used by armed groups.

The four victims were rescued on June 18 during military operations in areas where the bandit group led by Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani operates, according to information released by the Katsina State Government. Security forces said efforts were continuing to track down fleeing members of the network as part of sustained operations against armed groups responsible for kidnappings and attacks across the North-West.

In a separate operation, troops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 360 abductees from a Boko Haram enclave in the Mandara Mountains of southern Borno State. According to a statement issued by Army spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Haruna Sani, the operation combined intelligence gathering, psychological operations, and a coordinated assault on insurgent positions.

Sani said the victims had been held under harsh conditions by Boko Haram fighters. Two infants reportedly died from exhaustion linked to the difficult terrain and conditions endured in captivity, while the remaining victims were evacuated for medical treatment and humanitarian assistance.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Katsina State to strengthen security operations in forested areas often used as hideouts by armed groups.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda announced the approval following a security stakeholders’ meeting in Katsina. He said the forest guards would support conventional security agencies in surveillance, intelligence gathering, and operations in hard-to-reach areas.

Radda also announced restrictions on the sale of petrol in jerrycans and the operation of Point-of-Sale (PoS) centres in designated high-risk areas, saying the measures were aimed at disrupting the logistics and financial networks that sustain bandit activities.

Speaking at a press conference at Statement Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday, June 17, the Chairman of the Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF), Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, warned that Northern Nigeria is facing an “existential crisis” driven by terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, unemployment, and declining agricultural productivity.

Yelwa said insecurity had worsened significantly since the beginning of 2026, leading to displacement, humanitarian pressure, and economic hardship across many communities. He called for stronger coordination between security agencies, traditional institutions, and local communities, including improved intelligence sharing and greater citizen participation in identifying collaborators aiding armed groups.

He also urged the Federal Government to adopt more decisive measures to address the security situation, warning that persistent violence was undermining agriculture, education, and economic activities across much of the region.

The latest rescues come amid continuing insecurity across Northern Nigeria. Amnesty International reported in April that more than 1,100 people were abducted in parts of Northern Nigeria within three months, underscoring the scale of the kidnapping crisis. The Boko Haram insurgency and related violence have also displaced more than two million people across the North-East and the Lake Chad Basin region.

Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), remain active in parts of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states despite years of counterinsurgency operations, while armed bandit groups continue attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling across Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger states.

Across the North-West and North-Central regions, military operations have intensified in response to recurring attacks on communities and security personnel. Security analysts say the combination of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping continues to pose one of the most significant threats to stability and economic recovery in the region.

Despite recent military successes, stakeholders say sustained security operations, improved intelligence gathering, and broader socio-economic interventions will be required to address the underlying drivers of insecurity and restore lasting stability across Northern Nigeria.