Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator in Kaduna State, destroyed three improvised explosive devices in Zamfara State and recovered 73 livestock abandoned by fleeing terrorists, in a series of coordinated operations conducted on Thursday, October 8, 2026, according to a statement issued on Friday by the Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.
Danja said troops of Sector 1, acting on credible intelligence, arrested a suspect, Yusuf Adamu, at Kuyello in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State over his alleged collaboration with terrorists. During preliminary interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to involvement in terrorist activities, including recording a video of a female kidnap victim who was allegedly sexually assaulted by terrorists to facilitate a ransom demand. According to the statement, the suspect further alleged that the victim was subsequently killed after the ransom was delivered and that he received N50,000 for his role in the operation. The military said investigations were ongoing to apprehend the alleged principal suspect, identified as Yusuf Iliya Sani, and other collaborators.
The arrest underscores the critical role that collaborators play in enabling terrorist operations in Nigeria's North-West, where armed groups rely on local informants to identify targets, facilitate kidnappings, negotiate ransoms and evade security forces. The allegation that a kidnap victim was sexually assaulted and filmed to pressure her family into paying a ransom, and subsequently killed after payment, illustrates the brutality that has become a hallmark of bandit operations in the region. The military's decision to publicise the suspect's alleged confession signals an effort to demonstrate that those who enable such crimes, not only those who carry them out, will be held accountable.
In a related development, troops of Sector 2, working alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal team, destroyed three IEDs planted by terrorists along the Magami–Dansadau road in Zamfara State. Danja said the explosives were located and destroyed during a joint operation conducted on Thursday, and that the successful clearance operation had elicited positive reactions from residents and road users, who were expected to benefit from improved safety and freedom of movement along the route. A separate report by security analyst Zagazola Makama indicated that troops attached to Sector 2 recovered and neutralised two explosive devices planted along the Magami–Hannutara–Dansadau road in Maru Local Government Area, with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team destroying one device and rendering the other harmless.
The IED clearance operation is particularly significant because improvised explosive devices have increasingly become a weapon of choice for bandit groups operating in Zamfara State. Unlike the North-East, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have long used IEDs against military convoys and civilian targets, the North-West has historically seen fewer explosive attacks. The presence of IEDs along major roads in Zamfara suggests an evolution in the tactics of criminal groups and a growing threat to commuters and security forces operating in the region. The destruction of these devices, and the deployment of specialised EOD teams, reflects the military's recognition that the threat requires a dedicated technical response.
In another operation, troops recovered 73 livestock allegedly rustled by terrorists between Kombo and Gurusu villages in Zamfara State. The operation followed intelligence reports about the movement of terrorists with rustled animals in the area. According to the statement, troops swiftly deployed to the location and engaged the suspected terrorists, forcing them to flee and abandon the livestock. Danja said the recovered animals comprised 14 camels, 19 cows and 40 sheep, and that troops, working alongside local vigilantes, moved the recovered animals to a secure location for further action. Cattle rustling has long been a driver of conflict in the North-West, both as a source of income for criminal groups and as a trigger for communal violence between herders and farming communities. The recovery of livestock is therefore not merely a material success but a measure of disruption to the economic foundation of banditry in the region.
The military said the operations demonstrated its commitment to dismantling terrorist support networks, eliminating explosive threats and protecting lives and property across the North-West. It urged residents to continue providing credible and timely information about suspicious persons, movements and objects to the nearest security formation to support ongoing military operations. The appeal for public cooperation reflects the military's recognition that intelligence from local communities remains one of the most effective tools in the fight against terrorism and banditry, particularly in rural areas where security forces have limited presence and criminal groups operate with relative impunity.
The operations form part of a broader pattern of military activity across the North-West under Operation Fansan Yamma, which was established to combat banditry and terrorism in the region. In August 2026, troops arrested three suspected terrorist collaborators and destroyed terrorist enclaves in Kaduna and Katsina states. In September, the military announced the arrest of suspected logistics suppliers and collaborators across multiple states, including two logistics suppliers in Kaduna who had been on a counter-terrorism wanted list since June 2026. These operations reflect a sustained campaign to disrupt the networks that sustain armed groups, from those who supply food and fuel to those who provide intelligence and facilitate kidnappings.
The political context of the operations is significant. The 2027 general elections are less than four months away, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, and the governorship and state assembly elections for February 6. Security has emerged as one of the central issues in the campaign, alongside the cost of living and the economy. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking a second term on the All Progressives Congress platform, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement are among the major challengers. The Federal Government has consistently pointed to the expansion of military formations and the operational successes of security agencies as evidence of its commitment to addressing insecurity, while critics argue that attacks on rural communities and highways continue with alarming frequency.
For the communities along the Magami–Dansadau road and the villages between Kombo and Gurusu, the operations represent a measure of relief and a reminder that the military remains active in the region. For the family of the female kidnap victim who was allegedly assaulted and killed, the arrest of a suspect accused of filming the assault for ransom purposes offers the possibility of accountability, though it cannot undo the harm that was inflicted. For the military, the operations are another demonstration of its capacity to act on intelligence and to coordinate across sectors and with other agencies. As Danja put it, the operations demonstrated the military's commitment to dismantling terrorist support networks and protecting lives and property, and residents were urged to continue providing the information on which successful operations depend. The coming weeks will determine whether the momentum generated by these operations can be sustained and whether the arrest of collaborators and the clearance of IEDs translate into improved security for the communities that have borne the brunt of the violence.
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