Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Special Intervention Battalion 7, in collaboration with the 8 Division Strike Team under the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, has foiled a planned terrorist attack and neutralised several gunmen during a major forest operation in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The operation according to a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 8 Division, Lt Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, was carried out in Kadam Forest following credible intelligence that more than 100 armed terrorists linked to the Lakurawa group had converged in the area to coordinate attacks and kidnapping operations against nearby communities.
The statement further disclosed that, the terrorists were also reportedly using the forest as a transit point for transporting abducted victims to their hideouts.
“Acting on the intelligence, troops swiftly mobilised and advanced into the forest, where they made contact with the terrorists at about 12:00 noon, triggering a fierce gun battle.
“During the encounter, the terrorists attempted to execute a rear-flanking manoeuvre in an effort to outmanoeuvre the advancing troops.
“The soldiers responded with superior firepower, overwhelming the gunmen and maintaining tactical control throughout the engagement.
“In a Follow up clearance operations conducted in the forest later confirmed that three terrorists were neutralised, while several others were believed to have sustained gunshot wounds while fleeing the scene.”
“The troops also recovered a cache of weapons and equipment from the terrorists. Items recovered include one PKT machine gun, two AK-47 rifles, 350 rounds of PKT ammunition, 111 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three magazines, two communication radios, three motorcycles and a mobile phone.”
The statement also revealed that further exploitation operations are ongoing to track down fleeing terrorists, verify additional casualties, and recover more weapons believed to have been abandoned during the encounter.
It maintained that troops’ morale remains high, describing their combat efficiency as strong and resolute, while reaffirming the effectiveness of intelligence-driven joint operations in dismantling terrorist networks across the North-West.
“Aggressive patrols and sustained offensive operations have continued in the area to consolidate the gains recorded, disrupt fleeing terrorist elements and prevent any attempt at regrouping,” the statement added.
