Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 23 kidnapped civilians and arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group in separate operations across Sokoto State.
The operations, conducted on Sunday, also resulted in the foiling of attempted terrorist attacks in Wurno, Sabon Birni and Isa Local Government Areas.
The Media Information Officer of the JTF North-West, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
Danja said troops responded to an attack on Sabon Gari in Wurno LGA after terrorists invaded the community and opened sporadic fire, forcing residents to flee.
According to him, the troops engaged the attackers and forced them to retreat, while six kidnapped victims were rescued.
‘During the operation, troops rescued six kidnapped victims. One civilian who sustained a gunshot wound during the attack was evacuated to a medical facility for treatment,’ he said.
He said troops also acted on intelligence about an attempted terrorist movement along the Sabon Birni-Takatsaba Road around Chabe Biyu in Sabon Birni LGA.
Danja said the troops laid an ambush along the terrorists’ route and engaged them upon sighting them, forcing them to flee.
‘Troops engaged the terrorists with firepower on sighting, forcing them to flee in disarray,’ he stated.
In Isa LGA, the spokesman said troops responded to a distress call over terrorist activities along the Isa-Kwanar Isa-Shinkafi Road.
He said the troops engaged the terrorists, who subsequently withdrew, adding that a search of the area led to the rescue of 17 kidnapped civilians.
‘One of the rescued victims, who sustained a fracture, was immediately evacuated to the General Hospital, Isa, for medical attention,’ Danja added.
Meanwhile, four suspected Lakurawa members were arrested in Illela LGA following intelligence on the movement of suspected terrorists allegedly driving rustled cattle from Sarma Village towards Illela.
Danja said troops established a snap checkpoint along the route, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of six cows.
He said the suspects and recovered livestock were in military custody for further investigation, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the group.
The military spokesman said the operations demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led and proactive operations by Sector 2 OPFY in disrupting terrorist activities, rescuing kidnapped civilians and restricting the movement of terrorists.
He said the troops remained committed to sustaining pressure on terrorist elements and protecting communities across their area of responsibility.