Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested three suspected terrorist collaborators and destroyed identified terrorist enclaves during separate operations in Kaduna and Katsina states on August 27 and 28.

The military said the operations disrupted terrorist networks and restricted their movement within the Joint Operations Area.

In Kaduna State on August 27, troops of Sector 1 acted on intelligence and apprehended a suspected terrorist collaborator found with two locally fabricated guns and 13 rounds of ammunition concealed in a bag. During preliminary investigation, the suspect disclosed that he had been tasked to deliver the weapons and ammunition to another individual.

“Acting on the information from the suspect, troops swiftly conducted a follow-up operation and apprehended two additional suspects connected with the movement of the weapons,” said Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force.

The three suspects, along with the recovered weapons, ammunition and other items, are currently undergoing further investigation.

In a separate operation on August 28, troops of Sector 2, supported by other security agencies, conducted a clearance operation against identified terrorist enclaves around Maharba and Karaduwa in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State. Troops successfully cleared and destroyed the enclaves and other structures used by terrorists to support their criminal activities.

The military also cleared and destroyed an enclave linked to notorious terrorist leader Kachalla Muhammadu Filani, whose group has been terrorizing civilians in Matazu and Musawa Local Government Areas. The terrorist leader narrowly escaped as troops advanced towards the enclave.

During exploitation of the area, troops recovered an RPG-7 tube, a motorcycle, mobile phones and other items. Troops thereafter conducted further fighting patrols to consolidate the gains and deny terrorists freedom of action.

“These successes underscore the sustained efforts of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt the movement of weapons and other logistics, and deny terrorists the use of enclaves across the Joint Operations Area,” Danja said. “The Joint Task Force remains resolute in taking the fight to the terrorists through coordinated and intelligence-driven operations aimed at degrading their capabilities and restoring lasting peace and security to affected communities”.