Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Fansan Yamma, have intercepted a suspected explosives courier transporting 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives while also killing several terrorists during offensive operations in Zamfara State.
The operation, conducted on Thursday, August 14, also led to the recovery of rifles, ammunition and motorcycles as troops intensified efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and disrupt their supply routes across the North-West.
The Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to Danja, troops of Sector 2 encountered terrorists during an offensive clearance operation around Garin Kaso in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
He said the troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle and confirmed the deaths of two of the criminals.
The troops, he added, recovered two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles from the encounter.
Danja said the terrorists later attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions but were repelled.
“Troops responded decisively, fought through the ambush and inflicted further casualties on the terrorists, forcing surviving elements to flee the area,” he said.
He explained that the exact number of additional terrorists killed could not immediately be established.
However, intelligence gathered from residents indicated that several fleeing terrorists sustained gunshot wounds and that the bodies of their dead colleagues were evacuated from the area.
Explosives courier arrested
In a separate operation on the same day, troops intercepted a suspected logistics courier during routine snap checks on vehicles.
The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar, was allegedly transporting 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara to suspected terrorist elements operating in Jibia Local Government Area of neighbouring Katsina State.
Danja said the explosives were discovered after troops searched the vehicle.
He said Umar, the vehicle and the recovered explosives had been taken into custody for further investigation.
The interception is considered significant because disrupting the movement of explosives and other supplies can weaken the operational capacity of terrorist groups that rely on logistics networks to sustain attacks.
The Theatre Command said the latest operations demonstrated the sustained offensive posture of Operation Fansan Yamma, with troops simultaneously targeting terrorist enclaves and the networks responsible for supplying weapons, explosives and other resources to criminal elements.
The command reaffirmed its determination to sustain military operations across the North-West and deny terrorists and other criminal groups freedom of action in the region.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
