Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have recorded a major success in the ongoing fight against terrorism, killing two suspected members of the Lakurawa Terrorist Group (LTG) and recovering a cache of weapons in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. In a separate operation in Katsina State, the troops also intercepted terrorists moving with stolen livestock, forcing them to abandon 62 rustled cattle. The military spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 8 Division and Sector 2, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday, May 15, 2026.
In the Sokoto operation, troops responded swiftly to a distress call reporting an attempt by suspected Lakurawa fighters to set fire to a Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) facility at Ruwa Wiri Village in Tangaza Local Government Area. Upon arrival, the soldiers made contact with the terrorists and engaged them in a fierce gun duel. Using superior firepower, the troops neutralised two of the attackers, while others fled the scene with gunshot wounds. After the encounter, a thorough search of the area led to the recovery of two AK‑47 rifles, several rounds of ammunition, and a motorcycle abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.
In a separate operation in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, troops on a fighting patrol intercepted suspected terrorists moving with herds of rustled livestock at Danya Bakwai Settlement. The troops engaged the criminals, forcing them to abandon 62 rustled cattle, which were subsequently recovered. The livestock were later handed over to their rightful owners at the palace of the Daddara District Head in Jibia.
Lieutenant Colonel Osoba reaffirmed the commitment of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to eradicating terrorism and banditry in the North‑West region. He urged residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies. The military has intensified operations against armed groups across the North‑West amid persistent attacks on communities, security facilities and incidents of cattle rustling linked to bandits and the Lakurawa terrorist group. In recent months, troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have carried out coordinated offensives in Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi states to curb insecurity and dismantle criminal networks operating in the region.
The Lakurawa group, a jihadist sect with reported links to the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), has been active in the region bordering Nigeria and Niger. Security analysts say the group has exploited the porous border and has been responsible for a series of violent attacks, including the burning of villages, kidnapping for ransom, and cattle rustling. The latest operations by the military are part of a broader strategy to crush the insurgency and restore peace in the North‑West.
In a related development, the Defence Headquarters has pledged to sustain the momentum of the ongoing operations, noting that the military will continue to deploy kinetic and non‑kinetic measures to address the root causes of insecurity. Local communities have welcomed the successes, but called for more proactive measures to prevent reprisal attacks by fleeing terrorists.
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