By ZAKAA LAZARUS
Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, JTF NW OPFY, have sustained offensive operations against terrorists in Zamfara State, neutralising fighters, recovering weapons and intercepting 180 explosive materials being conveyed to terrorist elements.
This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.
According to the statement, on Thursday, August 14, 2026, troops of Sector 2 conducting clearance operations in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area made contact with terrorists around Garin Kaso and engaged them in a fierce firefight.
Two terrorists were confirmed neutralised during the initial encounter. Troops also recovered 2 rifles, 2 magazines, 9 rounds of ammunition and 2 motorcycles.
As the operation progressed, another group of terrorists attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions. The troops responded decisively, inflicting further casualties and forcing the surviving elements to flee.
Although the exact number of casualties from the subsequent encounter is yet to be confirmed, community reports indicated that several terrorists with gunshot wounds, as well as bodies of their neutralised colleagues, were evacuated by fleeing elements after the encounter.
In a separate development the same day, troops of Sector 2 conducting snap checks intercepted a suspected arms and explosives courier identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar.
A search of the suspect’s vehicle led to the recovery of 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives allegedly being transported from Gusau LGA of Zamfara State for delivery to suspected terrorist elements in Jibia LGA of Katsina State.
The suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation.
The statement said the operations demonstrate the sustained offensive posture of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in simultaneously taking the fight to terrorist enclaves and disrupting logistics networks that supply them with weapons and explosives.
The Theatre Command said it remains resolute in sustaining the momentum of operations and will continue to deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North West.
