Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have intensified counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping operations across the North-West, neutralising 190 terrorists, arresting 47 others and rescuing 126 kidnap victims during August 2026.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this while giving an operational update, saying the offensive operations were sustained across Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states to deny terrorists freedom of movement, disrupt their logistics and undermine their ability to attack communities.
According to him, troops recorded several significant breakthroughs during the month, including the disruption of terrorist movements, arrests of logistics suppliers and informants, recovery of weapons and explosives, as well as the rescue of abducted civilians.
One of the major operations occurred on 28 August in Maikujera Town, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where troops neutralised 30 terrorists during clearance operations. Several others fled into surrounding farms and vegetation.
The terrorists reportedly attempted to use rustled cattle as human shields during the encounter, but troops successfully thwarted the move and recovered 10 AK-47 rifles and five RPGs.
Intelligence gathered during the operation indicated that the terrorists were linked to the network of notorious kingpin Bello Turji, who allegedly uses the Maikujera axis as a transit corridor for moving stolen cattle from Gandi Town and neighbouring communities.
In another major encounter on 29 August, troops operating around Farin Tafki, Maharba, Adua and Soro Daya villages in Matazu LGA of Katsina State overwhelmed terrorists with superior firepower.
A terrorist identified as Smally, said to be a lieutenant to Kachalla Muhammed Filani, was neutralised. Troops also recovered three PKT machine guns, two AK-47 rifles, 11 AK-47 magazines, 180 rounds of ammunition and six motorcycles, four of which were destroyed on the spot.
Onoja said the troops also recorded major successes against terrorist logistics networks.
On 14 August, soldiers arrested a suspect transporting 180 units of Super Power Explosives along the Kaura-Zurmi Road in Zamfara State. The explosives were reportedly destined for terrorists operating in Katsina State. Another suspect linked to the supply chain was arrested in Gusau the following day.
Troops also arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator in Maradun, Zamfara State, with ₦5.302 million, allegedly intended for delivery to terrorist associates.
The operation further yielded the arrest of suspected informants and collaborators linked to several kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of the family of an immigration officer and staff and students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda.
In the area of hostage rescue, troops recovered 28 abducted victims between 17 and 19 August across Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states.
A further 31 victims were rescued between 22 and 26 August in operations conducted around Dandume-Sheme Road in Katsina, Anka and Tsafe in Zamfara, Kachia and Igabi in Kaduna State.
Earlier, on 8 August, troops responding to terrorist activity around Magazu Village in Tsafe LGA forced terrorists to abandon several kidnap victims.
Similarly, on 28 August, troops responding to an attempted abduction of commuters around Kwanoni Hill Gate in Tsafe engaged the attackers and forced them to flee, rescuing 12 commuters.
The Director also disclosed that troops had on 10 August neutralised 18 terrorists during an encounter at Makuku Village in Sakaba LGA of Kebbi State. The operation, however, resulted in the death of some local security personnel and one civilian.
Other notable successes included the arrest of two suspected foreign nationals believed to be IED experts in Zurmi, Zamfara, and the arrest of suspected gunrunners who were found with an assault rifle concealed in a bag of millet.
On 29 August, troops also ambushed terrorists along Gandi Bridge in Rabah LGA, Sokoto State, forcing them to flee. During subsequent exploitation of their withdrawal route the following day, troops found blood traces and recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with a magazine, suggesting that some of the fleeing terrorists may have sustained casualties.
Onoja said the sustained operations demonstrate the military’s determination to dismantle terrorist and kidnapping networks, cut their sources of logistics and restore security to communities across the North-West.
