Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested a suspected illicit drug peddler in Kaduna State, foiled a terrorist attack and rescued two kidnapped victims in Sokoto State.
The JTF’s Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the operations were conducted separately on September 12 and 13, 2026.
Danja said troops of Sector 1, while conducting a stop-and-search operation along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road on September 12, intercepted a man identified as Yohana Musa.
According to him, the suspect was found in possession of a large quantity of illicit drugs and other substances while travelling to Birnin Gwari.
“The suspect and recovered items are currently in troops’ custody for further investigation,” Danja said.
In Sokoto State, troops of Sector 2 responded to a distress call following a terrorist attack on Unguwan Lalle in Sabon Birni Local Government Area on September 13.
Danja said the troops engaged the terrorists and forced them to retreat, rescuing two kidnapped victims in the process.
“Troops made contact with the terrorists, engaging them with firepower and forcing them to withdraw in disarray, rescuing two kidnapped victims in the process,” he said.
He added that troops later received intelligence indicating that the terrorists were attempting to regroup and immediately mobilised to the area.
“Troops swiftly mobilised to the location, where they re-established contact and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to withdraw,” Danja said.
During a subsequent search of the area, the troops recovered 157 rounds of PKT ammunition, phone batteries and other items.
The JTF said the operations demonstrated the troops’ continued efforts to disrupt terrorist activities and restrict the movement of criminal elements across the North-West.
Danja said the Theatre Commander commended the troops for their “gallantry and professionalism” in sustaining the operational successes.
He added that the commander remained committed to denying terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the Joint Operations Area.
The JTF also urged residents to support security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence to assist ongoing operations.
