Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have intercepted a suspected arms and explosives courier allegedly transporting 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives in Zamfara State.

The interception was carried out on Friday, August 14, 2026, during routine snap checks on vehicles by troops of Sector 2 of the operation.

The Nigerian Army, in a statement posted on its official X handle on Saturday, identified the suspect as 57-year-old Sani Umar.

He was allegedly transporting the explosives from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State to suspected terrorist elements operating in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

According to the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops discovered the explosives following a search of Umar’s vehicle.

The Army said the suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives had been taken into custody for further investigation.

The interception occurred as troops simultaneously conducted offensive operations against suspected terrorists in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara.

During one of the encounters around Garin Kaso, troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, killing two suspected terrorists and recovering two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles.

The military said another group of terrorists subsequently attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions but was repelled.

It added that further casualties were inflicted on the terrorists, forcing the surviving members to flee the area with some of their wounded colleagues and bodies of those killed.

The Army said the latest operations underscored the sustained offensive posture of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, particularly efforts to disrupt terrorist enclaves and the logistics networks used to supply them with weapons and explosives.

The Theatre Command said troops would continue offensive operations aimed at disrupting terrorist activities and denying terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North-West.