By Mardiyyah Abubakar
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, 2026, 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, disclose this in a statement issue on Monday.
Danja say troops from Sector 2 intercepted a vehicle carrying three suspected gunrunners along the Kaura Namoda–Shinkafi Road.
He say 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,” he said.
The three suspects and the recovered weapons are currently in 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 say the troops engaged the terrorists as they attempted to force their captives into a nearby forest.
He says the pressure mounted by the troops forced the attackers 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 and are 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 adds that the task force would continue to deploy intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid response to tackle criminal elements within its area of responsibility.
