Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested three suspected gunrunners and rescued six kidnapped victims in separate operations in Zamfara State.
The operations, conducted on Sunday, August 23, also led to the recovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
Danja said troops from Sector 2 intercepted a vehicle carrying three suspected gunrunners along the Kaura Namoda–Shinkafi Road.
He said a search of the vehicle uncovered the rifle, magazine and ammunition concealed inside a bag of millet.
“Preliminary investigations indicated that the weapons cache was destined for Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area,” Danja said.
The three suspects, he added, alongside the recovered weapons and other items, had been taken into military custody for further investigation.
In a separate operation, troops responded to a distress call after terrorists reportedly attacked motorists along the Anka–Gummi Road.
Danja said the troops engaged the attackers as they attempted to force their captives into a nearby forest.
According to him, the pressure mounted by the troops forced the terrorists to flee, leaving all six victims behind.
“The rescued individuals were immediately secured by the troops,” he said.
He disclosed that three of the rescued victims sustained minor injuries and were evacuated to a medical facility, where they were receiving treatment and were in stable condition.
The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrated its commitment to disrupting the supply of arms to terrorist groups and protecting communities and road users across the North-West.
Danja said the task force would continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid-response measures to tackle criminal elements within its area of responsibility.
He commended residents for their cooperation with security agencies and urged them to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information about suspicious persons, weapons and movements.
“Public cooperation remains a critical component in our mission to dismantle terrorist networks and ensure the safety of lives and property throughout the North-West region,” he said.
