Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have thwarted a suspected terrorist attack, recovered an AK-47 rifle and arrested a suspected criminal during separate operations in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, in the latest in a series of military operations aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of action across the North-West.
The operations were conducted between September 23 and 24, 2026, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-West, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja. In the first operation, troops of Sector 1 acted on credible intelligence about the movement of terrorists through the bushes around Rijana in Kachia Local Government Area. The troops swiftly mobilised to the area, laid an ambush and engaged the terrorists after sighting them. Following the engagement, troops conducted a follow-up exploitation of the general area, leading to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle and a magazine loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. Also recovered were a magazine carrier and a military jungle hat, among other items.
In a separate operation on the same day, troops of Sector 1 conducted a clearance operation in Awom village, also in Kachia Local Government Area, to deny terrorists and other criminal elements a safe haven in the community. The operation resulted in the arrest of a suspected criminal identified as Jacob, who was allegedly found in possession of a fabricated pistol and seven rounds of ammunition. The suspect remained in military custody and was assisting with the ongoing investigation.
The operations in Kaduna form part of a wider series of military activities conducted by Operation FANSAN YAMMA across the North-West between September 23 and 25, 2026. In Katsina State, troops of Sector 2 intercepted three suspected terrorist logistics couriers travelling on a motorcycle in Faskari Local Government Area on September 24. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects were conveying ₦2.7 million, suspected to be ransom money, as well as three mobile phones, for onward transfer to a terrorist kingpin through intermediaries. The suspects and recovered items were taken into military custody for further investigation.
Also in Faskari on September 25, troops acting on intelligence about terrorist movements established an ambush and engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee. A subsequent search of the area resulted in the recovery of another AK-47 rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition and a motorcycle. In a related operation the same day, troops on routine patrol intercepted and rescued 14 kidnapped victims comprising 12 males and two females. The victims were reportedly abducted from Anguwan Miko and Tafoki villages in Faskari Local Government Area and abandoned by their captors after the terrorists sighted the advancing troops. The rescued victims were subsequently handed over to the Faskari Local Government authorities for further necessary action.
The Theatre Command commended the troops for their vigilance, courage and prompt response, and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information on suspicious movements and activities to security agencies. “The troops remain resolute in sustaining offensive and clearance operations to thwart terrorist activities, deny criminal elements freedom of action and protect communities within the Joint Operations Area,” Danja said.
The operations in Kachia are consistent with the pattern of military activity in the area in recent months. In September 2026 alone, troops of Sector 7, Sub-Sector 71 Sanga, neutralised a suspected terrorist during an offensive operation in Ungwan Nungu village in Sanga Local Government Area, following intelligence on the activities of suspected terrorists operating from a hideout in the community. In a separate operation in September, troops foiled a terrorist attack at Ungwan Gardago Village in Kaduna North Local Government Area after responding to a distress call. In August, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA neutralised two terrorists during an ambush operation in Kachia Local Government Area. The pattern reflects the persistent threat posed by armed groups operating in the forests and rural communities of Kaduna State, particularly along the Kaduna–Abuja corridor and the Rijana axis, where the dense vegetation provides cover for criminal elements.
Kachia Local Government Area has been a flashpoint for banditry and kidnapping for years. Its proximity to the Kaduna–Abuja highway, its extensive forest cover and its porous borders with neighbouring states make it a strategic location for armed groups seeking to evade security operations and launch attacks on travellers and rural communities. The military has maintained a sustained presence in the area, conducting ambushes, clearance operations and intelligence-led raids aimed at disrupting criminal networks and rescuing kidnapped victims.
The recovery of an AK-47 rifle and ammunition in Kaduna comes amid heightened national concern over the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria. The military has repeatedly recovered AK-47 rifles, magazines and ammunition during operations across the North-West, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing security agencies. In September alone, troops recovered multiple AK-47 rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and other weapons in operations across Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina states. The arrest of a suspect with a locally fabricated pistol in Awom village also highlights the prevalence of illicit weapons manufacturing and distribution in the region.
For the communities of Kachia and Faskari, the operations represent a measure of relief from the persistent threat of terrorist attacks, kidnapping and banditry. The rescue of 14 kidnapped victims in Katsina State brought families back together after what must have been days of anguish, while the recovery of weapons and the arrest of suspects disrupted the operational capacity of criminal networks. The military has emphasised that its operations are designed not only to neutralise immediate threats but to deny criminal elements the freedom of action they need to operate, a strategy that requires sustained intelligence gathering, community cooperation and the willingness to pursue fleeing suspects into difficult terrain.
The success of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Kaduna and Katsina underscores the importance of credible intelligence from local communities. In both operations, troops acted on information about terrorist movements, and the resulting engagements led to the recovery of weapons and the rescue of victims. The Theatre Command has urged members of the public to continue providing information on suspicious movements and activities, stressing that community cooperation remains one of the most effective tools in the fight against terrorism and banditry. For now, the operations represent another round in a long campaign to restore peace and security to Nigeria’s North-West, and the military has made clear that it intends to sustain the pressure on criminal elements until they are denied the ability to threaten communities.
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