By ZAKAA LAZARUS
Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 23 kidnapped victims and arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group during separate operations across Sokoto State.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Danja said on September 20, 2026, troops swiftly responded to a terrorist attack on Sabon Gari in Wurno Local Government Area, where terrorists invaded the community and fired sporadically, causing civilians to flee.
According to him, troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to withdraw, and rescued six kidnapped victims during the operation. He added that one civilian who sustained a gunshot wound was evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.
In a separate operation on the same day, troops acted on intelligence that terrorists were attempting to cross the Sabon Birni–Takatsaba Road around Chabe Biyu in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
“Troops swiftly mobilised and laid ambush at the terrorists’ axis of advance. Troops engaged the terrorists with firepower on sighting, forcing them to flee in disarray. Troops dominate the general area in order to deny the terrorists freedom of action,” Danja said.
Similarly, troops responded to a distress call on terrorist activities along the Isa–Kwanar Isa–Shinkafi Road in Isa Local Government Area. Danja said troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them with firepower, forcing them to withdraw in disarray.
He said exploitation of the area led to the rescue of 17 kidnapped civilians, with one of the victims who sustained a fracture evacuated to the General Hospital, Isa, for medical attention.
In another intelligence-driven operation, troops acted on information about the movement of suspected Lakurawa members driving rustled cattle from Sarma Village towards Illela.
Danja said troops mobilised to Illela Local Government Area and established a snap checkpoint along the suspected route, leading to the arrest of four suspected Lakurawa members and recovery of six cows.
He said the suspects and recovered livestock are in military custody for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the group.
He added that the successes underscore the effectiveness of intelligence-driven and proactive operations by troops to disrupt terrorist activities, rescue kidnapped civilians and deny terrorists freedom of movement across the Joint Operations Area.
