Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested three suspected gunrunners and rescued six kidnapped victims in separate operations across Zamfara State.
The operations, carried out on Sunday, August 23, 2026, also resulted in the recovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition.
The Joint Task Force Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
According to Danja, troops from Sector 2 intercepted a vehicle carrying three suspected gunrunners along the Kaura Namoda–Shinkafi Road.
A search of the vehicle reportedly led to the discovery of 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.
He added that the three suspects and the recovered weapons had been taken into military custody for further investigation.
In a separate operation, troops responded to a distress call following an attack on motorists along the Anka–Gummi Road.
Danja said the troops engaged the attackers as they attempted to force their captives into a nearby forest.
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The military pressure reportedly forced the terrorists to flee, abandoning all six victims.
The rescued victims were immediately secured by the troops, while three who sustained minor injuries were evacuated to a medical facility for treatment. They were said to be in stable condition.
The Joint Task Force said the operations underscored 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 rely on intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid response to tackle criminal activities within its area of responsibility.
He also commended residents for supporting security operations and urged them to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with 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.
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