TROOPS of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have intercepted three suspected gun runners and rescued six kidnapped victims in separate operations in Zamfara State.
News Point Nigeria reports that the operations, conducted on Sunday, August 23, 2026, also resulted in the recovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, a magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition.
In the first operation, troops of Sector 2 intercepted a vehicle conveying three suspected gun runners along the Kaura Namoda–Shinkafi Road, leading to the recovery of the weapon and ammunition concealed in a bag of millet.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, a magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition hidden inside the bag.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the weapons were allegedly being transported to Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area.
The three suspects, alongside the recovered weapon, ammunition and other items, are currently in military custody for further investigation.
In a separate operation, troops responded to a distress call following an attack on motorists along the Anka–Gummi Road, where terrorists were reportedly attempting to force their captives into a nearby forest.
The troops arrived at the scene and engaged the attackers in an aggressive response that forced the terrorists to flee, abandoning all six victims.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, the rescued victims were immediately secured by the troops.
Danja said three of the victims sustained minor injuries and were evacuated to a medical facility for treatment, adding that they were in stable condition.
He said the operations demonstrated the commitment of the Joint Task Force to disrupting the arms supply chains of terrorist groups and protecting communities and road users across the North-West.
Danja added that the military would sustain intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid response across its Joint Operations Area in the effort to deny terrorists freedom of movement and disrupt their activities.
The Media Information Officer also commended members of the public for their support and urged residents to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information on suspicious persons, weapons and movements.
He stressed that public cooperation remains critical to the efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their operations and safeguard lives and property across the region.