Troops Establish Forward Base In Katsina To Intensify Fight Against Bandits

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have established a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Sayaya, Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, to intensify military operations against terrorists and armed bandits while facilitating the safe return of displaced residents.

Military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity in Gusau on Sunday, said the newly established FOB is strategically located to deny criminal elements freedom of movement and prevent them from using Sayaya as a staging ground for attacks or a logistics corridor to their hideouts.

According to the sources, the development follows sustained military offensives under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, during which several terrorist enclaves in the area were dismantled.

They described the establishment of the Forward Operating Base as a major milestone in the military’s ongoing counter-banditry campaign in the North-West, noting that the facility would serve as a launch pad for offensive operations while ensuring a permanent military presence in the area.

The sources added that the FOB would strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rapid response to emerging threats and reassure residents of the military’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

For years, repeated attacks by armed bandits forced many residents of Sayaya and neighbouring communities to flee their homes, disrupting farming and other economic activities.

With troops now maintaining a permanent operational presence in the area, authorities expect displaced families to gradually return and resume farming and other socio-economic activities critical to the local economy.

The military said the FOB would also enable troops to sustain pressure on fleeing terrorists, prevent the re-establishment of criminal camps and consolidate gains recorded during recent clearance operations across the region.

Operation FANSAN YAMMA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the lives and property of law-abiding citizens, stressing that troops would continue aggressive operations to eliminate banditry and other security threats across Katsina State and the wider North-West.

The military also appealed to residents to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible intelligence, noting that public cooperation remains essential to achieving lasting peace and security in affected communities.