Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have reportedly killed several Lakurawa fighters and destroyed their camps during a clearance operation in Waria Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The operation, carried out on Thursday, October 15, also resulted in the recovery of weapons and five motorcycles from the group’s hideout.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt Col Aliyu Danja, announced the development in a statement issued on Thursday.
Danja said troops from Sector 2 advanced through identified terrorist hideouts around Alela, Bilange and Kandam villages towards Waria Forest, where they encountered the armed group.
According to him, the troops engaged the fighters in a gun battle and overpowered them with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon their positions and retreat further into the forest.
“Troops subsequently pursued the fleeing terrorists, neutralising some of them in the process,” he said.
Danja added that subsequent operations in the area led to the destruction of the terrorists’ camps and their life-support structures. Weapons and five motorcycles were also recovered.
He said troops had maintained their presence in the area through continued clearance and domination operations aimed at restricting the fighters’ movement and preventing them from using the forest as a hideout.
“The latest success underscores the commitment of Operation Fansan Yamma to dismantling terrorist enclaves, denying terrorist elements safe havens and restoring lasting peace and security across the Joint Operations Area,” Danja said.
He praised the troops for their courage, resilience and continued efforts, while urging residents to provide timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities in their communities.
However, the military did not disclose the exact number of fighters killed or provide details of the types and quantities of weapons recovered during the operation.