Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have recorded another breakthrough in the ongoing campaign against terrorism and banditry in the North-West, killing a key terrorist lieutenant and recovering a cache of weapons during a clearance operation in Katsina State.
The operation, carried out on August 29, 2026, targeted identified terrorist hideouts in Matazu Local Government Area. According to military authorities, troops of Sector 2 encountered armed resistance as they advanced into the enclaves but successfully overpowered the terrorists through superior firepower.
A statement issued by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed that one of the terrorists neutralised during the operation was identified as “Smally,” a lieutenant to notorious terrorist leader Kachalla Muhammadu Filani.
The military described the development as a significant blow to the operational structure of terrorist groups active within the area.
“During exploitation of the area, troops confirmed the neutralisation of a terrorist identified as Smally, a lieutenant of notorious terrorist leader Kachalla Muhammadu Filani,” Danja stated.
Following the engagement, troops conducted a search of the area and recovered a substantial quantity of weapons and logistics equipment allegedly used by the terrorists.
Items recovered included three machine guns, two AK-47 rifles, 11 magazines and 180 rounds of ammunition. Soldiers also seized six motorcycles believed to have been used by the criminals for movement and attacks across affected communities.
The military said the operation forms part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling terrorist networks, destroying their operational bases and disrupting their capacity to launch attacks on civilian populations.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA has intensified offensive operations across several North-West states in recent months, targeting bandit camps and criminal hideouts linked to kidnappings, cattle rustling and other violent crimes.
The Joint Task Force reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups and restoring normalcy in affected communities.
Military authorities urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible intelligence, noting that collaboration between local communities and security forces remains critical to achieving lasting peace and security in the region.
