Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have rescued 23 kidnapped victims, foiled terrorist attacks and arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Sokoto State.
The operations were conducted in separate locations across the state, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of JTF Northwest, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja.
Danja said troops responded to an attack on Sabon Gari in Wurno Local Government Area, where terrorists invaded the community and opened fire, forcing residents to flee.
He said the troops engaged the attackers, forcing them to withdraw, and rescued six kidnapped victims.
One civilian who sustained a gunshot wound during the attack was evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.
Danja said troops subsequently dominated the area to deny the terrorists freedom of movement.
In a separate operation along the Isa-Kwanar Isa-Shinkafi Road in Isa Local Government Area, troops engaged terrorists with firepower, forcing them to retreat and rescuing 17 kidnapped civilians.
One of the rescued victims, who sustained a fracture, was evacuated to General Hospital, Isa, for medical attention.
Danja also said troops, acting on intelligence, intercepted suspected members of the Lakurawa group who were allegedly moving a herd of rustled cattle from Sarma Village to Illela.
He said troops established a snap checkpoint along the suspected route in Illela Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of four suspected Lakurawa members and the recovery of six cows.
The suspects and recovered livestock are in military custody for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the group.
Danja said the operations demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led and proactive measures by troops to disrupt terrorist activities, rescue kidnapped civilians and restrict terrorists’ freedom of movement across the Joint Operations Area.
He reiterated the troops’ commitment to sustaining operations to protect communities within their area of responsibility.