Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have neutralised two suspected Lakurawa terrorists and recovered weapons and ammunition during a counter-terrorism operation in Kebbi State.
The military said the operation was conducted on Friday, June 27, 2026, in the Sabarumawa area following intelligence reports that armed elements were planning an attack on the community.
The Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the troops acted swiftly to prevent the planned assault.
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According to Danja, personnel of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion 7 were deployed to the area after receiving credible intelligence on the movement of the suspected terrorists.
The troops subsequently established a tactical ambush along a route believed to be frequently used by the armed group.
“As the terrorists approached the ambush position, the troops engaged them with overwhelming firepower, resulting in a fierce gun battle,” Danja said.
He explained that the troops overpowered the terrorists during the exchange, killing two suspects while several others escaped into nearby forests.
A follow-up exploitation operation conducted by the troops led to the recovery of weapons and other materials abandoned by the fleeing insurgents.
Items recovered from the scene included two AK-47 rifles, AK-47 magazines, 143 rounds of ammunition and a motorcycle believed to have been used by the suspects for mobility during operations.
Danja described the operation as part of sustained military offensives aimed at dismantling terrorist cells, disrupting criminal networks and restoring stability across the North-West.
“The operation underscores the commitment of Operation Fansan Yamma to safeguarding lives and property through sustained military pressure against terrorists and criminal elements,” he stated.
He also appealed to residents across the region to continue collaborating with security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence capable of aiding ongoing operations.
Operation Fansan Yamma was established as a joint security initiative to tackle terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes affecting states in Nigeria’s North-West geopolitical zone.
Security forces have intensified intelligence-led operations in recent months against Lakurawa fighters and other armed groups operating within Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and neighbouring states.
The Lakurawa group has emerged as one of the security threats confronting communities in parts of the North-West, prompting increased military deployments and coordinated operations by the armed forces.
Military authorities maintain that sustained offensives, coupled with improved community intelligence gathering, remain critical to weakening terrorist networks and preventing attacks on vulnerable communities.
The latest operation in Kebbi adds to a series of recent successes recorded by troops conducting clearance operations and targeted raids aimed at denying armed groups freedom of movement within the region.
