In a series of coordinated operations, troops of the Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY) rescued three kidnapped victims and thwarted an impending terrorist mission across Zamfara and Sokoto States.
The successful crackdowns, executed by Sector 2 troops, also resulted in the recovery of a high-calibre weapon, ammunition, motorcycles, and military accoutrements.
On Monday, June 22, 2026, troops on a routine offensive patrol in the Bagega area of Anka Local Government Area, Zamfara State, intercepted a group of fleeing terrorists. Buckling under sustained military pressure, the criminals abandoned three female hostages who had been held in captivity for roughly three months.
Military officials identified the rescued victims as 28-year-old Zainab Muhammadu of Gara Zaima Village, Zamfara State, alongside 20-year-old Hafsat Ibrahim and 17-year-old Halira Usman, both from Mashiga/Taka Lafiya Village in Kebbi State.
According to a statement from the military, all three women were immediately evacuated to a medical facility for comprehensive evaluation and stabilisation.
A separate operation conducted on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, prevented what officials described as a major imminent attack in Sokoto State.
Acting on credible intelligence reports regarding terrorist movements, troops of the 8 Division Garrison staged a strategic ambush at Kwanar Jollof in Jangeru Village, Shinkafi Local Government Area.
Upon sighting the military unit, the terrorists were met with overwhelming firepower. The attackers abandoned their mission and fled into nearby bushes in disarray.
A subsequent sweep of the area by troops yielded a significant haul of criminal assets, including one PKT machine gun, a cache of live ammunition, two motorcycles, and chains suspected to have been used for restraining captives.
Military leadership cited these back-to-back successes as a testament to their shift toward intelligence-driven operations and a sustained offensive posture designed to deny criminal elements freedom of action in the North West.
In a press release dated June 24, 2026, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the Media Information Officer for JTF NW Operation FANSAN YAMMA, reaffirmed the military’s resolve to secure the region.
“The Joint Task Force remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens,” Danja said. “Troops will continue to sustain relentless pressure on terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements until lasting peace, security, and normalcy are fully restored across the Northwest region.”
