Troops neutralise terrorists, intercept 180 explosives In Zamfara

By Adebola Muili

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have neutralised terrorists and recovered weapons while intercepting a suspected explosives courier with 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives in Zamfara State.

The successes were recorded on Thursday, August 14, 2026, during offensive clearance and security operations conducted by troops of Sector 2 in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops operating around Garin Kaso made contact with terrorists and engaged them in a fierce firefight.

Danja, in a statement issued on Saturday, said two terrorists were confirmed neutralised during the initial encounter, while troops recovered two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles.

He said another group of terrorists later attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions, but the soldiers successfully fought through the ambush, inflicting further casualties and forcing the surviving terrorists to flee.

“Although the exact number of terrorist casualties from the subsequent encounter is yet to be confirmed,” Danja said reports from communities in the area indicated that several terrorists with apparent gunshot wounds, as well as the bodies of their neutralised colleagues, were evacuated by the fleeing elements.

In a separate development on the same day, troops conducting routine snap checks on vehicles intercepted a suspected arms and explosives courier identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar.

A search of Umar’s vehicle led to the recovery of 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives allegedly being transported from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State to suspected terrorist elements operating in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The suspect, his vehicle and the recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation.

The Theatre Command said the operations demonstrated the sustained offensive posture of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, particularly its efforts to disrupt terrorist logistics networks supplying weapons, explosives and other resources used to perpetrate violence.

It added that the command remained resolute in sustaining the momentum of ongoing operations and would continue to deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North-West.