Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have neutralised a key terrorist lieutenant and recovered machine guns, rifles, ammunition and motorcycles during clearance operations in Katsina State.
The operation was carried out on August 29, 2026, as troops sustained offensive operations against terrorist groups operating across the state.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops of Sector 2 encountered stiff resistance from armed terrorists while conducting clearance operations in identified terrorist enclaves in Matazu Local Government Area.
The troops, however, responded with what the military described as superior firepower, forcing the terrorists to flee the area.
During the subsequent exploitation of the area, troops confirmed the neutralisation of a terrorist identified as SMALLY, said to be a lieutenant of a notorious terrorist leader, Kachalla Muhammadu Filani.
Items recovered from the terrorists included three machine guns, two AK-47 rifles, 11 magazines, 180 rounds of ammunition and six motorcycles allegedly used by the group for its operations.
The military said the operation was part of ongoing efforts by Operation FANSAN YAMMA to sustain pressure on terrorist networks and dismantle their operational capabilities across the Joint Operations Area.
The statement added that troops remained committed to taking the fight to the terrorists, restricting their freedom of movement and creating conditions for the restoration of lasting peace and security in affected communities.
