Troops from the Joint Task Force North West, operating under Sector 1 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have killed two bandits, arrested four suspects, and quelled a violent civil disturbance during a series of coordinated security operations across Kaduna State over the weekend.
The military campaign began on Saturday, June 20, 2026, when troops acted on credible intelligence regarding ongoing cattle rustling. Security forces intercepted the fleeing criminals and engaged them in a fierce firefight, neutralising two suspected bandits.
During the encounter, troops recovered an unspecified cache of weapons and ammunition alongside the stolen livestock.
Military officials confirmed that one civilian was tragically killed by the bandits before the arrival of the troops.
Later that evening, troops on a night patrol intercepted two individuals. A subsequent digital forensic sweep of their mobile devices revealed incriminating materials linking them directly to active terrorist networks and regional banditry. Both suspects remain in military custody.
The offensive continued into Sunday, June 21, 2026, when a fighting patrol encountered a group of armed criminals. Following a brief pursuit into the surrounding bush, troops captured two suspected bandit scouts and seized their motorcycles and communication equipment.
Separately on Sunday, troops were deployed to the Mararraba community to contain a volatile civil disturbance. The unrest erupted after a mob lynched a female suspect accused of child trafficking.
The crowd then grew violent, attempting to vandalise public infrastructure and block a major highway. Troops dispersed the rioters, secured critical facilities, and restored the flow of traffic. A visible security presence remains in the area to maintain public order.
In a statement released on Monday, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the Media Information Officer for Operation FANSAN YAMMA, conveyed the Theatre Commander’s praise for the troops’ vigilance and operational discipline.
The commander reassured residents of the Northwest region that offensive, intelligence-driven operations will be sustained until criminal networks are fully degraded.
