-
Troops intercepted four suspected Lakurawa members in Illela Local Government Area while allegedly moving rustled cattle towards Illela, recovering six cows in the process.
-
Six captives were freed after troops repelled a terrorist attack in Wurno, while another 17 were rescued following a military engagement with terrorists along the Isa–Kwanar Isa–Shinkafi Road.
-
Troops foiled terrorist movements and attacks in Wurno, Sabon Birni and Isa LGAs, forcing the attackers to retreat and preventing them from establishing control over the affected areas.
-
The Joint Task Force said the latest successes reflect its intelligence-driven approach to disrupting terrorist activities, restricting their freedom of movement and protecting communities across its operational area.
September 21, (THEWILL) – Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group and rescued 23 kidnapped civilians in separate operations across Sokoto State.
The operations, conducted on Sunday, September 20, also saw troops foil terrorist attacks and movements in parts of Wurno, Sabon Birni and Isa Local Government Areas.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt-Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday.
In Wurno Local Government Area, troops responded to a terrorist attack on Sabon Gari after the attackers invaded the community and opened sporadic fire, causing residents to flee.
The troops engaged the terrorists and forced them to withdraw from the area. Six kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation, while a civilian who sustained a gunshot injury was evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.
In a separate operation in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, troops acted on intelligence indicating that terrorists were attempting to cross the Sabon Birni–Takatsaba Road around Chabe Biyu.
The troops swiftly mobilised and established an ambush along the terrorists’ suspected axis of advance. They engaged the terrorists immediately when they were sighted, forcing them to flee in disarray.
Troops subsequently dominated the general area to prevent the terrorists from regrouping and deny them freedom of action.
READ ALSO:
Similarly, troops responded to a distress call concerning terrorist activities along the Isa–Kwanar Isa–Shinkafi Road in Isa Local Government Area.
The troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them with firepower, forcing the attackers to withdraw. During an exploitation of the area, troops rescued 17 kidnapped civilians.
One of the rescued victims, who sustained a fracture, was immediately evacuated to the General Hospital, Isa, for medical attention.
The recovery of the 17 victims brought the total number of kidnapped civilians rescued during the operations to 23.
Four Lakurawa Suspects Arrested
In another intelligence-led operation in Illela Local Government Area, troops acted on information concerning the movement of suspected Lakurawa members allegedly driving a herd of rustled cattle from Sarma Village towards Illela.
The troops swiftly mobilised and established a snap checkpoint along the suspected route. The operation resulted in the arrest of four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group and the recovery of six cows.
The suspects and recovered livestock have been taken into military custody for further investigation and necessary action.
The military said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the group who fled during the operation.
Background
The latest operations come amid sustained military efforts to tackle terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across Nigeria’s North-West, where criminal and terrorist groups have continued to exploit remote communities and difficult terrain to launch attacks and abduct civilians.
Lakurawa has emerged as a security concern, particularly around communities close to Nigeria’s north-western border areas. The group has been linked by Nigerian authorities to armed activities in parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states.
The military’s Operation FANSAN YAMMA is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist and bandit networks, rescue kidnapped civilians and restore security across the North-West.
According to Danja, the latest successes underscore the effectiveness of the intelligence-driven and proactive operations being conducted by troops of Sector 2.
He said the operations were aimed at disrupting terrorist activities, rescuing kidnapped civilians and denying terrorists freedom of movement across the Joint Operations Area.
He added that troops remained resolute in sustaining pressure on terrorist elements while protecting communities within their area of responsibility.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
