Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY), recorded a string of successes against terrorist elements across Zamfara State on Friday, disrupting enemy movements, seizing military-style equipment, defusing a roadside bomb, and arresting two men accused of ferrying cash to a terrorist commander.
According to a statement issued by the Theatre Command, the operations spanned multiple local government areas and involved close coordination with police units.
In one operation, troops of Sector 2 teamed up with a Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit after receiving reports of a suspicious device planted near Jabanda village in Zurmi Local Government Area.
“The team located and cleared the device, scanned the road, declared it safe and reopened it to motorists,” the statement said, describing the device as an Improvised Explosive Device that had threatened traffic on a major route.
While returning from the bomb-disposal mission, the same troops ran into a group of terrorists at Birnin Tsaba village in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area.
“Troops encountered terrorists at Birnin Tsaba village… and engaged them, forcing a withdrawal into the bush,” the Theatre Command said, adding that a sweep of the area afterwards turned up two motorcycles, a camouflage jungle hat, a handheld radio and other items linked to the fleeing fighters.
Elsewhere, troops of Sector 2 working alongside the Mobile Police Squadron acted on intelligence about terrorist activity around Kwanar Jolof in Shinkafi Local Government Area.
“Troops engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to withdraw in disarray,” the statement read. A follow-up search recovered a motorcycle, a pair of camouflage uniforms, a camouflage vest and a jungle hat.
In a separate development, troops on patrol near Maradun intercepted a man identified as 35-year-old Lawali Dan Alo, described by the military as a terrorist collaborator and logistics vendor.
Although the suspect claimed his bag contained food items, a search reportedly uncovered more than five million naira (₦5.302 million) in cash along with a mobile phone.
“Preliminary interrogation showed the suspect was allegedly delivering the funds on behalf of a terrorist leader to another individual, Kasimu Garba,” the statement said. Garba was subsequently arrested at his residence, and both men remain in custody as investigations continue.
The Theatre Command praised the troops involved for their “vigilance, courage and prompt response,” and pledged that operations would continue.
“Aggressive patrols, intelligence-led operations and targeted action against terrorist networks will continue across the Northwest region,” the statement said, while calling on residents to report suspicious activity to security agencies “to restore lasting peace in the region.”
