Troops Kill Terrorists, Arrest Arms Courier, Recover 180 Explosives In Zamfara

Troops of Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma (JTF NW OPFY), have neutralised terrorists and arrested a 57-year-old arms courier with180 explosive materials being conveyed to terrorist elements in Zamfara State.

A statement by Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North West), Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt-Col Aliyu Danja said troops of Sector 2 on Friday while conducting an offensive clearance operation in Birnin Magaji local government area made contact with terrorists around Garin Kaso and engaged them in a fierce firefight.

He said two terrorists were neutralised during the initial encounter, while troops recovered two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles.

He explained that another group of terrorists attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions as the operation progressed.

Lt-Col Aliyu said troops responded decisively and successfully fought through the ambush, inflicting further casualties on the terrorists and forcing the surviving elements to flee.

“Although the exact number of terrorist casualties from the subsequent encounter is yet to be confirmed, reports from the communities within the general area indicated that several terrorists with apparent gunshot wounds, as well as bodies of their neutralized colleagues, were evacuated by the fleeing elements following the encounter,” he said.

According to him,the development further indicates the significant pressure being brought to bear on terrorist groups as troops continue to take the fight to their enclaves.

In another development on the same day, troops of Sector 2 conducting routine snap checks on vehicles intercepted a suspected arms and explosives courier, identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar.

He said a search of the suspect’s vehicle led to the recovery of 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives allegedly being transported from Gusau local government area of Zamfara State for delivery to suspected terrorist elements operating in Jibia local government area of Katsina State.

He said the suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation.

He reiterated that the operations demonstrate the sustained offensive posture of Operation Fansan Yamma in simultaneously taking the fight to terrorist enclaves and disrupting the logistics networks that provide them with weapons, explosives and other resources required to perpetrate violence.