Troops Intercept Gun Runners, Rescue Six Kidnap Victims in Zamfara
Troops of the Joint Task Force, North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have recorded further operational successes in Zamfara State, intercepting suspected gun runners and rescuing six kidnapped victims in separate operations conducted on August 23, 2026.
In a statement, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said troops of Sector 2 intercepted a vehicle conveying three suspected gun runners along the Kaura Namoda–Shinkafi Road.
A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition concealed in a bag of millet.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the weapons were being transported to Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area.
Danja said the three suspects, alongside the recovered weapon, ammunition and other items, were in military custody and undergoing further investigation.
In a separate operation the same day, troops responded swiftly to reports of a terrorist attack on motorists along the Anka–Gummi Road.
According to him, the troops engaged the terrorists on arrival at the scene as the assailants attempted to force their captives into the surrounding forest.
The aggressive response by the troops compelled the terrorists to flee, forcing them to abandon all six victims, who were subsequently rescued and secured by the troops.
Three of the victims, who sustained minor injuries during the incident, were evacuated to a medical facility for treatment and were said to be in stable condition.
The Joint Task Force said the operations underscored its commitment to disrupting the arms supply chains of terrorist networks and protecting local communities and commuters from criminal attacks.
It added that Operation FANSAN YAMMA would continue to intensify intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid-response activities across its Joint Operations Area.
The Joint Task Force also commended members of the public for their continued support and urged residents to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with timely and credible information on suspicious persons, weapons and movements.
It stressed that sustained public cooperation remained critical to dismantling terrorist networks and safeguarding lives and property across the North-West region.
