Troops kill one, arrest suspected terrorist father, son

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have neutralised a suspected terrorist and arrested two others, identified as father and son, during separate operations in Katsina and Sokoto states.

The operations, conducted between November 10 and 11, also led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, ammunition, a motorcycle and other items.

The Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Capt Tamuno Sinivie, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

Sinivie said troops of Sector 1, acting on credible intelligence, had, on November 10, intercepted armed terrorists allegedly planning to attack residents of Bada’u Gora in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He said the troops subsequently established an ambush along the suspected terrorists’ route and engaged them in a gun battle.

“On contact, the troops engaged the terrorists, neutralising one,” the statement said.

Items recovered from the scene included an AK-47 rifle, one magazine, six rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle and three mobile phones.

The military spokesman added that no casualty was recorded among the troops during the operation.

In a separate operation on November 11, troops of Sector 2 arrested two suspected terrorists during an intelligence-led operation at Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

According to Sinivie, the suspects, identified as Muhammadu Ali and Umaru Ali, were discovered to be father and son and were allegedly affiliated with the Lakurawa terrorist group.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects, identified as Muhammadu Ali and Umaru Ali, are father and son and are allegedly affiliated with the Lakurawa terrorist group,” he said.

The troops reportedly recovered another AK-47 rifle, one magazine, three rounds of ammunition and N9,760 from the suspects.

Sinivie said the suspects remained in custody for further investigation and prosecution.

He reaffirmed the military’s commitment to tackling terrorism and other criminal activities across the North-West.

“Operation Fansan Yamma remains resolute in its commitment to rid the Joint Operations Area of terrorists and safeguard the lives and property of citizens,” he said.

He urged residents to sustain their cooperation with security agencies by providing timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities in their communities.