Troops Arrest Terrorist Collaborators, Destroy Enclaves in Kaduna, Katsina

By Harriet Tornguvan 

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested three suspected terrorist collaborators, recovered weapons and ammunition, and destroyed terrorist enclaves during separate operations in Kaduna and Katsina States.

The operations, conducted on August 27 and 28, 2026, were part of ongoing efforts by the military and other security agencies to dismantle terrorist networks and deny them freedom of movement and operational bases across the North-West.

The Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement.

According to him, troops of Sector 1 on August 27 acted on intelligence concerning a suspected terrorist collaborator in Kaduna State.

The suspect was apprehended with two locally fabricated guns and 13 rounds of ammunition concealed in a bag.

During preliminary investigation, the suspect reportedly disclosed that he had been assigned to deliver the weapons and ammunition to another individual.

Acting on the information, troops conducted a follow-up operation and arrested two additional suspects allegedly linked to the movement of the weapons.

The three suspects, alongside the recovered weapons, ammunition and other items, are currently undergoing further investigation.

In Katsina State, troops of Sector 2, supported by other security agencies, carried out a clearance operation on August 28 against identified terrorist enclaves around Maharba and Karaduwa in Matazu Local Government Area.

The troops successfully cleared and destroyed the enclaves and other structures allegedly being used by the terrorists to facilitate their criminal activities.

The operation also targeted an enclave linked to a notorious terrorist leader, Kachalla Muhammadu Filani, whose group has reportedly been terrorising residents of Matazu and Musawa Local Government Areas.

The terrorist leader, according to the statement, narrowly escaped as troops advanced towards the enclave.

Further exploitation of the area led to the recovery of an RPG-7 tube, a motorcycle, mobile phones and other items.

Troops subsequently conducted fighting patrols across the general area to consolidate the gains of the operation and prevent the terrorists from regrouping or regaining freedom of action.

The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrated the sustained commitment of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to dismantling terrorist networks, disrupting the movement of weapons and logistics, and denying terrorists access to enclaves within its area of operations.

It added that the task force would continue to employ coordinated, intelligence-driven operations aimed at degrading the capabilities of terrorists and restoring lasting peace and security to affected communities.