Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have intercepted three suspected gun runners and rescued six kidnapped victims during separate operations in Zamfara State.
The operations, carried out on August 23, 2026, resulted in the recovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, a magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition, according to a statement by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.
In the first operation, troops of Sector 2 intercepted a vehicle conveying three suspected gun runners along the Kaura Namoda–Shinkafi Road.
A thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition concealed inside a bag of millet.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the recovered weapons were allegedly being transported to Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The three suspects and the recovered items are currently in military custody for further investigation.
In a separate operation on the same day, troops responded to reports of a terrorist attack on motorists along the Anka–Gummi Road.
On arriving at the scene, the troops engaged the terrorists, who were attempting to force their captives into the surrounding forest.
An aggressive pursuit by the troops forced the attackers to flee, abandoning all six kidnapped victims.
The rescued victims were immediately secured, while three who sustained minor injuries during the ordeal were evacuated to a medical facility for treatment and were said to be in stable condition.
The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrated Operation FANSAN YAMMA’s sustained commitment to disrupting arms supply chains supporting terrorist networks and protecting communities and commuters across the North-West.
Lieutenant Colonel Danja said the troops would continue intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid-response missions across the Joint Operations Area to dismantle terrorist networks and enhance security.
The task force also commended members of the public for their support and urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely, credible information on suspicious persons, weapons and movements to security agencies.
According to the statement, continued public cooperation remains critical to ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and protect lives and property across the North-West region.
