TROOPS of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have intercepted a suspected arms and explosives courier allegedly transporting 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives in Zamfara State.
News Point Nigeria reports that the interception was made on Friday during routine snap checks on vehicles conducted by troops of Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force.
The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar, was reportedly transporting the explosives from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State to suspected terrorist elements operating in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to a post by the Nigerian Army on X on Saturday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, said a search of Umar’s vehicle led to the recovery of the explosives.
“The suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation,” the military said.
The interception came as troops simultaneously conducted offensive operations against terrorist elements in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Troops reportedly engaged terrorists around Garin Kaso in a fierce firefight, killing two suspected terrorists and recovering two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles.
“Troops engaged terrorists around Garin Kaso in a fierce firefight, killing two suspected terrorists and recovering two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles,” the statement said.
The military said another group of terrorists later attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions but were repelled.
The troops reportedly inflicted further casualties on the terrorists, forcing the surviving members to flee the area.
The exact number of casualties from the second encounter could not immediately be confirmed. However, the military said community reports indicated that several wounded terrorists, as well as the bodies of some of their colleagues, were evacuated by the fleeing group.
The military said the operations demonstrated the sustained offensive posture of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, which is targeting both terrorist enclaves and the logistics networks supplying them with weapons and explosives.
The Theatre Command said it would continue its offensive operations to disrupt terrorist activities and “deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North West.