Troops Eliminate Terrorists in Sokoto Forest During Coordinated Military Operation

Personnel of the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion 7, working alongside the 8 Division Strike Team under the Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, successfully neutralised several terrorists during a tactical mission carried out in Kadam Forest.

The development was disclosed in an official statement released by Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 8 Division, Nigerian Army / Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

According to the statement, the successful operation followed actionable intelligence and a well-coordinated engagement with a dangerous terrorist network linked to the Lakurawa terrorist group operating around Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Security intelligence reports indicated that more than one hundred terrorists had gathered deep inside the Kadam Forest area. The gathering was reportedly intended for planning coordinated attacks on surrounding communities as well as organising kidnapping activities. The group was also believed to be arranging the relocation of abducted victims to different hideouts within the forest.

However, the planned operations of the terrorists were disrupted after military personnel acted swiftly upon receiving the intelligence report. Troops quickly mobilised and strategically moved to intercept the criminal group before their plans could be executed.

A fierce and prolonged exchange of gunfire followed after the troops made contact with the armed group. During the confrontation, the terrorists attempted to execute a rear-flanking manoeuvre in an effort to outmanoeuvre the soldiers. Despite the attempt, the troops maintained control of the situation by deploying superior firepower and coordinated tactical response.

The soldiers sustained operational dominance throughout the engagement, successfully preventing the terrorists from gaining any advantage during the clash.

As a result of the encounter, three terrorists were confirmed neutralised, while several others were believed to have suffered gunshot injuries as they fled the scene into the forest environment.

Military personnel also recovered a number of weapons and operational items from the location after the confrontation. The recovered materials include one PKT machine gun, two AK-47 rifles, 350 rounds of PKT ammunition, 111 rounds of 7.62 special ammunition, three rifle magazines, two communication radios, three motorcycles and a mobile phone believed to have been used by members of the group.

The operation represents another effort by security forces to disrupt the activities of terrorist networks operating in parts of north-western Nigeria and to improve safety for communities affected by insurgent and kidnapping activities.