Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested a suspected explosives courier and recovered 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives in Zamfara State.
The Punch reported that the suspect, identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar, was intercepted on Friday during a routine snap check conducted by troops of Sector 2.
According to the Nigerian Army, Umar was allegedly conveying the explosives from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State to suspected terrorist elements in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed that the explosives were discovered after troops searched Umar’s vehicle.
“The suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation,” the military said.
The Army said the interception occurred alongside offensive operations by troops against terrorist elements in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara.
“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.
According to the military, another group of terrorists subsequently attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions but was repelled.
The troops reportedly inflicted additional casualties on the terrorists, compelling the surviving fighters to retreat from the area.
Although the military said the precise number of casualties from the second confrontation could not be immediately established, it added that community sources reported that fleeing terrorists evacuated several injured members and the bodies of some of their colleagues.
The Army said the latest operations underscored the sustained offensive campaign of Operation FANSAN YAMMA against terrorist strongholds and the networks responsible for supplying them with weapons and explosives.
The Theatre Command said it would sustain its operations to disrupt terrorist activities and “deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North West.”
