Troops of the Joint Task Force (North West) have foiled coordinated terrorist attacks, neutralised a notorious terrorist commander and recovered arms and other combat equipment during separate operations in Zamfara and Katsina states.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the operations involved coordinated ground offensives that disrupted planned attacks on communities, eliminated key terrorist elements and further degraded the operational capabilities of criminal groups operating across the North-West.
According to Danja, troops of Sector 2, acting on credible intelligence, responded to reports of an impending terrorist attack on communities in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Working in collaboration with local security volunteers, the troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to retreat with several casualties.
He said that in a separate operation around Dogon Kade, troops responding to an attack on farmers neutralised a notorious terrorist commander, Alhaji Tukur, identified as the younger brother of terrorist kingpin Alhaji Shehu Bagiwaye. Several other terrorists reportedly sustained gunshot wounds and fled the area.
Danja added that troops also responded to reports of terrorist activities in Sabon Gari, also in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, where the advancing forces forced the terrorists to abandon their mission and flee into nearby bushes.
“A subsequent exploitation of the area led to the neutralisation of another terrorist and the recovery of a motorcycle used by the fleeing criminals,” he said.
In Katsina State, Danja said troops on a fighting patrol encountered terrorists along the Danmusa–Yantumaki axis in Danmusa Local Government Area.
“The troops overpowered the terrorists, who fled under sustained fire, abandoning two AK-47 rifles, two magazines loaded with 25 rounds of ammunition and one motorcycle, all of which were recovered during a follow-up exploitation,” he added.
