June 22 (THEWILL) — Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have recorded significant battlefield gains in sustained counter-terrorism operations across Sokoto and Katsina States, shattering terrorist cells, rescuing abducted civilians, foiling an attack and recovering arms, motorcycles and rustled livestock.
The operations, which formed part of ongoing military offensives aimed at dismantling terror and bandit networks in the North-West, were confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.
According to the statement, the first major encounter occurred on Sunday, June 21, when armed terrorists attempted to infiltrate Tureta town in Sokoto State.
Acting on credible intelligence, troops were swiftly deployed to intercept the advancing criminals, engaging them in a firefight that forced the attackers to abandon their mission and flee into surrounding terrain.
Following the initial contact, aerial surveillance assets tracked the fleeing terrorists to Sulubawa Gidan Kare village, where they were observed moving with abducted civilians and rustled livestock. Troops immediately launched a coordinated pursuit operation to intercept the group and prevent further movement.
During the operation, the terrorists mounted a hasty ambush against advancing troops in a desperate attempt to halt the pursuit. However, the soldiers overpowered the attackers through superior firepower and tactical coordination, forcing them to scatter.
The operation resulted in the successful rescue of abducted civilians, recovery of rustled cattle, and the seizure of two motorcycles allegedly used by the terrorists for mobility and logistics.
In a separate development in Katsina State, troops conducted an intelligence-driven dawn raid in the early hours of June 22, 2026, targeting a known terrorist enclave in Matazu Local Government Area.
The surprise offensive caught the criminals off guard, triggering a fierce exchange of fire during which two terrorists were neutralised. Several others reportedly escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries as troops maintained pressure on the enclave.
Following the clearance operation, troops conducted a thorough exploitation of the hideout, leading to the recovery of a cache of arms, ammunition and logistics items.
Recovered items include one PKT machine gun, one AK-47 rifle with ammunition, three motorcycles, mobile communication devices, rustled livestock, and other operational equipment used by the criminal network.
Military authorities described the recoveries as a major setback for terrorist and bandit elements operating across the region, noting that the destruction of such logistics hubs would significantly degrade their operational capacity.
Lieutenant Colonel Danja said the operations underscore the determination, professionalism and combat effectiveness of troops engaged in Operation FANSAN YAMMA, adding that the military remains committed to taking the fight directly to terrorist strongholds.
He assured residents of Sokoto, Katsina and the wider North-West region that sustained intelligence-driven operations would continue until all terrorist and bandit networks are dismantled and safe communities restored.
According to him, the ongoing offensives are aimed at denying criminals freedom of action, disrupting their logistics chains and restoring lasting peace to affected areas.
The military urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely intelligence, noting that community cooperation remains critical to the success of ongoing operations.
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