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The Nigerian military has intensified its counterterrorism operations in the North West, killing 58 terrorists, arresting 11 others, and rescuing 16 kidnapped victims in a series of offensives carried out between February 1 and 12, 2025. T
The Defence Headquarters, in its weekly media briefing, reported on Thursday that troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA launched coordinated attacks across Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi states, striking major terrorist hideouts and disrupting insurgent networks.
“As part of ongoing non-kinetic efforts, a notorious terrorist leader, Kachalla Mudi, and two others surrendered on February 3 and 4, handing over one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one AK-47 rifle, and a fabricated AK-47 rifle in Birnin Gwari and Igabi Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State,” the Defence Headquarters stated.
On February 4, troops conducting a fighting patrol in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State engaged terrorists in a fierce gun battle, neutralising five insurgents and successfully rescuing five kidnapped victims.
The Defence Headquarters noted that “troops encountered and engaged terrorists in various locations across Zamfara State, neutralising six terrorists in Gusau LGA and recovering four AK-47 rifles, two dane guns, 62 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and two motorcycles.”
Similarly, in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, troops killed eight terrorists and seized five AK-47 rifles, two fabricated rifles, a dane gun, 83 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, two magazines, and a Baofeng radio.
The statement further disclosed that “between February 4 and 6, troops responded to Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) activities in Sabon Birni and Talata Mafara (Zamfara State), Maru and Gumi (Sokoto State), and Sabuwa, Kafur, and Baure (Katsina State).
“These operations resulted in the elimination of six terrorists and the rescue of four victims. Recovered items included four AK-47 rifles, a fabricated rifle, 173 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, three magazines, and three motorcycles.”
Between February 4 and 9, troops carried out fighting patrols across Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto states. “These operations led to the elimination of 18 terrorists and the rescue of six kidnapped hostages.
“Additionally, security forces recovered 13 AK-47 rifles, three fabricated rifles, one GPMG, one RPG tube, 252 chain links of 12.7mm ammunition, 197 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 94 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, five magazines, three Baofeng radios, eight motorcycles, and 11 mobile phones,” the statement read.
Intelligence-led operations between February 7 and 9 resulted in the arrest of a high-profile terrorist kingpin, Muhada Muhammadu, also known as Yellow, and four of his associates in Kauran Namoda, Shinkafi, and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, as well as Binji and Birnin Kebbi Local Government Areas in Sokoto and Kebbi States.
The Defence Headquarters confirmed that “security forces also recovered a total sum of ₦2,451,820.00 from the suspects.”
Summarising the gains of the operation, the military said, “in total, Operation FANSAN YAMMA troops neutralized 58 terrorists, arrested 11 terrorists, and rescued 16 kidnapped hostages.
“Security forces also recovered 31 AK-47 rifles, nine fabricated rifles, two GPMGs, one RPG tube, 252 chain links of 12.7mm ammunition, 558 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 94 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, 12 magazines, five Baofeng radios, 13 motorcycles, 11 mobile phones, and cash amounting to ₦2,451,820.00.”
The Defence Headquarters reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian military to maintaining security in the region and urged citizens to provide timely intelligence to aid ongoing operations.
