Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have foiled a terrorist attack in Sokoto State and rescued two kidnapped victims during a counter-terrorism operation in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

The operation took place on September 13, 2026, after troops of Sector 2 responded to a distress call over a terrorist attack on Unguwan Lalle, according to a statement issued on Monday by the JTF Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja.

Danja said the troops engaged the terrorists with firepower, forcing them to retreat and rescuing two kidnapped victims in the process.

He said intelligence later indicated that the terrorists were attempting to regroup, prompting the troops to swiftly mobilise to the area, where they re-established contact with the group and engaged them in another fierce gun battle.

The terrorists were again forced to withdraw, while troops subsequently recovered 157 rounds of PKT ammunition, phone batteries and other items during an exploitation of the area.

In a separate operation in Kaduna State, troops of Sector 1 arrested a suspected illicit drug peddler, identified as Yohana Musa, during a stop-and-search operation along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road on September 12.

Danja said a large quantity of illicit drugs and other substances were recovered from the suspect, who was travelling to Birnin Gwari.

He said the suspect and the recovered items remained in military custody for further investigation.

The JTF said the operations demonstrated its continued efforts to disrupt terrorist activities and restrict the movement of criminal elements across the North-West.

The Theatre Commander commended the troops for their “gallantry and professionalism” and urged them to sustain the operational successes.

The JTF also appealed to residents to provide timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to support ongoing operations.