Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested a suspected notorious terrorist in Kaduna State and intensified air and ground clearance operations against terrorist hideouts in Zamfara State.
The suspect, identified as Auta Maikyala, was arrested on November 5, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation by troops of Sector 1, in conjunction with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), in Kagarko town, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A statement issued on Friday in Gusau by the Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Captain Tamuno Sinivie, said Maikyala was arrested at a hospital in Kagarko, where he had reportedly gone to seek medical attention for a gunshot wound sustained during an encounter with a rival faction.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is an alleged notorious criminal involved in several attacks on communities, kidnapping and cattle rustling operations.
“He is currently in custody for further investigation and prosecution,” Sinivie said.
Similarly, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have intensified clearance operations aimed at neutralising terrorists and dismantling their hideouts in Zamfara State.
Sinivie said that on November 5, troops conducted clearance operations in the villages of Aljummu Hausa, Aljummu Fulani, and Tunga Magaji in the Maradun Local Government Area of the state.
He said the ongoing operations have resulted in the clearance of several terrorist hideouts, further restricting the activities of criminal elements and enhancing the security of residents in the affected communities.
In a related development, on the same day, the Air Component of the Nigerian Air Force conducted air interdiction operations against identified terrorist locations suspected to be associated with the wanted terrorist kingpin, Dogo Gide, in Babban Doka and Kuyumbana Forest, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The operation followed credible intelligence indicating that the terrorists were assembling in the area to plan and coordinate their criminal activities.
Sinivie said troops are currently maintaining dominance over the general area.
He assured that Operation FANSAN YAMMA will sustain its operational tempo and aggressive posture to fulfil its mandate of protecting lives and property across the Joint Operations Area.
He urged the general public to continue supporting ongoing military operations by providing timely and credible information on suspected terrorists and their activities to assist security agencies in eliminating criminal threats from communities.
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