The Nigerian Army says troops of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have recorded major successes in separate counter-terrorism operations carried out in Sokoto and Katsina states, rescuing kidnapped victims, recovering rustled livestock, and seizing weapons and other equipment from suspected terrorists.
In a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the Army said the operations were conducted on June 21 and 22 following credible intelligence on the activities of armed terrorist groups in the North-West.
According to the statement, troops first intercepted a group of armed terrorists attempting to infiltrate Tureta town in Sokoto State on Sunday. The soldiers engaged the suspects in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon their mission and retreat.
The military said aerial surveillance assets were subsequently deployed to monitor the fleeing suspects, who were later traced to Sulubawa Gidan Kare village. Intelligence indicated that the group was moving with kidnapped civilians and rustled livestock.
Troops immediately launched a pursuit operation and reportedly encountered an ambush mounted by the fleeing terrorists. Despite the resistance, the soldiers overpowered the attackers, compelling them to flee into surrounding bushes.
The Army said the operation resulted in the rescue of all abducted victims, the recovery of stolen livestock, and the seizure of two motorcycles allegedly used by the suspects.
In a separate operation conducted in the early hours of Monday, troops carried out an intelligence-led raid on what the military described as a notorious terrorist hideout in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to the Army, the surprise assault led to a fierce exchange of gunfire during which two suspected terrorists were killed, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Following the operation, troops searched the hideout and recovered one PKT machine gun, one AK-47 rifle, ammunition, three motorcycles, mobile communication devices, rustled livestock, and other items believed to have been used in the group’s operations.
Commenting on the operations, the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, commended the troops for their professionalism, courage, and resilience.
He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining offensive operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, denying criminal groups freedom of movement, and restoring peace and security across the North-West region.
The Army urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence to aid ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
