May 15, (THEWILL) — Troops of the Nigerian military have recorded fresh operational successes against terrorists and bandits across Sokoto, Katsina and parts of the North-East, neutralising suspected insurgents, thwarting planned attacks, recovering arms and ammunition, and rescuing rustled livestock during coordinated offensives under Operations FANSAN YAMMA and HADIN KAI.
The latest operations, conducted on Friday, highlighted intensified military pressure on criminal and terrorist groups operating within the North-West and North-East regions.
In Sokoto State, troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, responded to a distress call following an attempted attack by members of the Lakurawa Terrorist Group (LTG) on a Nigerian Immigration Service facility located at Ruwa Wiri Village in Tangaza Local Government Area.
According to the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division and Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, killing two insurgents, while several others fled due to what he described as overwhelming military firepower.
Osoba stated that troops subsequently carried out exploitation operations within the area, leading to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, ammunition and a motorcycle believed to have been used by the fleeing terrorists.
In a separate operation in Katsina State, troops deployed in Jibia Local Government Area intercepted suspected terrorists moving with rustled livestock during a fighting patrol around Danya Bakwai Settlement.
The troops engaged the criminals, forcing them to abandon 62 rustled animals before fleeing the scene.
Military authorities confirmed that the recovered livestock were later handed over to their rightful owners at the palace of the Daddara District Head in Jibia LGA.
The Army said the operations formed part of sustained efforts by Operation FANSAN YAMMA to dismantle terrorist and bandit networks operating within the North-West.
Meanwhile, troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, also recorded significant gains under Operation DESERT SANITY and Operation VIGILANT SIEGE, including the disruption of a planned terrorist attack and the recovery of arms and ammunition.
The Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, disclosed that troops uncovered an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along a route behind the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp near a military location at Ladari.
According to him, the explosive device was suspected to have been strategically planted to target reinforcement teams and military vehicles operating within the area.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists, however, safely detonated the IED in situ without casualties or damage.
Troops conducting strangulation operations along the Ladari riverbanks also uncovered an abandoned cache of arms and ammunition.
Items recovered included one Browning pistol, one locally fabricated pistol, 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition and seven cartridges.
In another development, troops of Sector 3 working in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force arrested a 15-year-old suspect identified as Umar Zacharria in Gubio town.
Preliminary investigations linked the suspect to terrorist activities along the Kareto axis, where motorists had reportedly come under repeated attacks.
Military authorities said the suspect remains in custody for further investigation.
The military noted that the latest coordinated operations reflected sustained pressure aimed at denying terrorists and bandits freedom of action across both operational theatres.
The Nigerian Army and Joint Task Force reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, neutralising emerging threats and restoring peace, security and economic stability in affected communities, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies.
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