By Kingsley Omonobi
ABUJA — Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have thwarted an attempt to smuggle weapons and rescued six kidnapped victims in two separate operations conducted in Zamfara State.
The operations, carried out on Sunday, August 23, 2026, also led to the arrest of three suspected gun runners and the recovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, a magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition.
The Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Danja said troops from Sector 2 intercepted a vehicle conveying three suspected gun runners along the Kaura Namoda-Shinkafi Road.
“A meticulous search of the vehicle uncovered an AK-103-2 rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition concealed within a bag of millet,” he said.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the weapons were allegedly being transported to Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area of the state.
Danja said the three suspects, alongside the recovered weapons, ammunition and other items, were in military custody and undergoing further investigation.
In a separate operation on the same day, troops responded to reports of an attack on motorists along the Anka-Gummi Road.
According to him, the troops engaged the attackers as they attempted to force their captives into the surrounding forest.
“An aggressive pursuit by the troops forced the assailants to flee and abandon all six victims,” he said.
The rescued victims were immediately secured by the troops, while three who sustained minor injuries during the ordeal were evacuated to a medical facility for treatment. They were said to be in stable condition.
Danja said the operations underscored the commitment of Operation Fansan Yamma to disrupting the arms supply chains of terrorist networks and protecting communities and commuters.
“The Joint Task Force will continue to take the fight to these criminal elements through intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid response across the Joint Operations Area,” he said.
He commended members of the public for their support and urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to security forces on suspicious persons, weapons and movements.
“Public cooperation remains a critical component in our mission to dismantle terrorist networks and ensure the safety of lives and property throughout the North-West region,” he added.
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