Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 23 kidnapped civilians and arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group in a series of coordinated operations conducted across Sokoto State on Sunday, September 20, 2026. The operations, which spanned Wurno, Sabon Birni, Isa and Illela Local Government Areas, also foiled attempted terrorist attacks and led to the recovery of six cows allegedly rustled by the criminals. The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed the successes in a statement issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, describing the operations as a demonstration of the effectiveness of intelligence-driven and proactive military action.
The first operation unfolded in Wurno Local Government Area, where troops of Sector 2 responded to a terrorist attack on Sabon Gari community. Armed men had invaded the village and opened sporadic fire, forcing residents to flee in panic. The troops engaged the attackers with superior firepower and forced them to withdraw from the community. During the operation, six kidnapped victims were rescued. One civilian who sustained a gunshot wound during the attack was immediately evacuated to a medical facility for treatment. The swift response by the troops prevented what could have been a far deadlier outcome and brought the first measure of relief to a community that had been plunged into fear.
In a separate operation in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, troops acted on credible intelligence about an attempted movement by terrorists along the Sabon Birni–Takatsaba Road around Chabe Biyu. The troops established an ambush along the terrorists' likely axis of advance and waited. When the attackers arrived, the soldiers engaged them with firepower, forcing them to flee in disarray. The troops subsequently dominated the general area to deny the terrorists freedom of action and prevent them from regrouping or launching further attacks. The ambush was a textbook example of the military's growing reliance on intelligence-led operations to disrupt terrorist mobility and logistics across the North-West.
The third operation took place in Isa Local Government Area, where troops responded to a distress call concerning terrorist activities along the Isa–Kwanar Isa–Shinkafi Road. The troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them, forcing them to withdraw. Subsequent exploitation of the area led to the rescue of 17 kidnapped civilians, bringing the total number of victims rescued in the day's operations to 23. One of the rescued victims, who sustained a fracture, was immediately evacuated to the General Hospital in Isa for medical attention. The rescue of 17 people in a single operation underscored the scale of the kidnapping crisis in Sokoto State and the military's capacity to respond decisively when actionable intelligence is available.
The fourth operation occurred in Illela Local Government Area, where troops received intelligence about suspected Lakurawa members moving a herd of allegedly rustled cattle from Sarma Village towards Illela. The troops swiftly mobilised and established a snap checkpoint along the suspected route. The operation led to the arrest of four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group and the recovery of six cows. The suspects and the recovered livestock were taken into military custody for further investigation, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other members of the group who fled the scene. The arrest of the four suspects is particularly significant because the Lakurawa group has been identified as a growing threat in Sokoto and Kebbi states, with links to banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural communities.
Lieutenant Colonel Danja said the operations reflected the sustained efforts of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to disrupt terrorist activities, rescue civilians held in captivity and restrict the movement of criminal elements across the Joint Operations Area. He said the latest successes underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-driven and proactive operations by the troops. "The latest successes underscore the effectiveness of intelligence-driven and proactive operations being conducted by troops of Sector 2 OPFY to disrupt terrorist activities, rescue kidnapped civilians and deny terrorists freedom of movement across the Joint Operations Area," he stated. He added that the troops remained committed to sustaining pressure on terrorist elements and protecting communities within their area of responsibility as security forces continued offensive and intelligence-led operations across the North-West.
The operations were part of a broader military campaign that has recorded a series of successes in recent weeks. In August 2026, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued 16 civilians from attempted abductions in Zamfara and repelled a terrorist attack in Sokoto. On August 28, troops responded to a distress call in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara and rescued four civilians, while another operation in Tsafe Local Government Area led to the rescue of 12 passengers. In a separate incident in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto, troops repelled a terrorist attack and evacuated two civilians who sustained gunshot wounds. The military has also captured several senior commanders of notorious bandit kingpins, including associates of Kachalla Maha, and recovered large quantities of weapons, ammunition and rustled livestock.
The rescue of 23 victims in a single day is a significant achievement, but it also highlights the scale of the challenge. Kidnapping has become a lucrative criminal enterprise in Nigeria's North-West, with armed groups abducting civilians for ransom and exploiting the region's difficult terrain and weak security presence. The military's operational successes are real, but they have not yet translated into a lasting reduction in attacks. The Lakurawa group, in particular, has emerged as a dangerous new actor, exploiting existing communal tensions and displacing communities. The arrest of four suspected members in Illela is a step forward, but the group's leadership remains at large, and its capacity to regroup and launch fresh attacks remains a concern.
For the families of the 23 rescued victims, Sunday's operations brought relief and reunion. For the troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, they represented another day of dangerous work in a long and difficult campaign. The military has consistently called on communities to provide timely and credible information to support its operations, stressing that public cooperation is essential to the success of the fight against terrorism and banditry. The people of Sokoto State, who have endured years of violence and displacement, are hopeful that the sustained pressure on criminal networks will eventually bring peace to their communities. For now, the message from the troops is clear: the fight continues, and the long arm of the law will reach those who terrorise the innocent.
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