By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage— The military had said its troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have intercepted three suspected gun runners and rescued six kidnapped victims in separate operations in Zamfara State.
The operations were conducted on August 23, 2026, according to a statement by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja.
In the first operation, troops of Sector 2 intercepted a vehicle conveying three suspected gun runners along the Kaura Namoda–Shinkafi Road.
A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of an AK-103-2 rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition concealed in a bag of millet.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the weapons were being transported to Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area of the state.
The three suspects and the recovered arms and ammunition have been taken into military custody for further investigation.
In a separate operation, troops responded to reports of a terrorist attack on motorists along the Anka Gummi Road.
The troops engaged the terrorists as they attempted to force their victims into a nearby forest, forcing the assailants to flee and abandon all six captives.
The rescued victims were immediately secured by the troops, while three who sustained minor injuries during the incident were evacuated to a medical facility. The victims are reportedly in stable condition.
The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrated its commitment to disrupting the supply of arms to terrorist networks and protecting communities and road users across the North West.
It said troops would sustain intelligence driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid response across the Joint Operations Area.
The task force also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information on suspicious persons, weapons and movements to security agencies.
It said public cooperation remained critical to dismantling terrorist networks and protecting lives and property across the region.
