Nigeria: Troops kill suspected terrorist

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

Troops of the Joint Task Force, North West, operating under Operation Fansan Yamma, have killed a suspected terrorist and arrested two others in separate security operations across Katsina and Sokoto states.

The operations, carried out on November 10 and 11, also resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, ammunition, a motorcycle and three mobile phones.

The Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Captain Tamuno Sinivie, disclosed the development in a statement shared on X on Thursday.

According to Sinivie, troops of Sector 1 launched an operation following intelligence reports about the presence of armed terrorists at Bada’u Gora in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The armed men were reportedly planning attacks on members of the community, prompting troops to establish an ambush along their suspected route.

The soldiers subsequently engaged the armed men, killing one suspected terrorist during the encounter.

Items recovered from the scene included an AK-47 rifle, one magazine, six rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle and three mobile phones. The military confirmed that no soldier was killed or injured during the operation.

In a separate operation conducted on November 11, troops of Sector 2 arrested two suspected terrorists at Bauni Forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The military disclosed that an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, three rounds of ammunition and ₦9,760 were recovered during the operation.

Preliminary investigations identified the arrested suspects as Muhammadu Ali and Umaru Ali, who were described as father and son and allegedly linked to the Lakurawa terrorist group.

Captain Sinivie said the suspects remained in military custody while undergoing further investigation and would face prosecution.

The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and improving security across the North-West region.