Troops fighting to rid the nation of terrorists and other criminal elements have rescued 388 kidnapped victims, arrested 31 terrorists and neutralised 10 terrorists in various encounters in the theatres of Operation in the last one week.
Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations made this known on Tuesday while giving an update of military offensive against criminal elements in Abuja.
He said, “In the North West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamna recorded decisive gains against terrorists and criminal elements in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara States.
“On 5 June 2026 at a snap checkpoint enroute from Gusau to Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State, troops intercepted a vehicle and recovered a locally fabricated 9mm pistol, 1,002 rounds of 7.62mm by 39mm ammunition, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and 10 rounds of 9.4mm ammunition, all concealed in a sack of millet. .
“The suspect, Mallam Mustapha Abubakar, arrested with the items, is believed to be an arms dealer.
“Preliminary interrogation revealed the weapons were destined for an unidentified contact in Shinkafi LGA; troops subsequently tracked and arrested the intended recipient at Tupa village in Shinkafi LGA.
“On the same date, troops conducted a fighting patrol to Birnin Tsaba, Boko, and Tsanu villages in Birnin Magaji LGA of Zamfara State made contact with terrorists, neutralized one and recovered seven motorcycles with no casualties recorded on troops.
“On 7 June 2026 at Tudun Wada village in Maru LGA of Zamfara State, troops conducted a fighting patrol and established contact with terrorists.
“Following the engagement, eight suspected terrorists were arrested and seven motorcycles were recovered.
“Additional items recovered included 30 phone batteries, 19 mobile phones, 41 power banks, seven phone chargers, four Baofeng handheld radios, four pairs of camouflage uniforms, and three pairs of boots. ”
