Get Guardian on GoogleTroops of Operation FANSAN Yamma (OPFY) have intercepted ransom payments, rescued kidnapped victims, recovered stolen livestock, and neutralized terrorists during operations in Zamfara and Sokoto States.
Captain David Adewusi, Media Information Officer of OPFY, said in a statement that the operations were carried out between September 8 and 10 across Shinkafi, Gusau, Bukkuyum, and Tureta Local Government Areas.
According to him, troops recovered over ₦23 million suspected to be ransom payments, rescued several kidnapped victims, and recovered more than 160 rustled livestock.
The operations began with coordinated offensives along the Shinkafi Katuru–Galadi–Tubali axis, where troops of the 1 Brigade Forward Operating Base, Shinkafi, and the Mobile Strike Team cleared terrorist hideouts in Galadi and Tubali villages, forcing several bandits to flee with gunshot wounds.
During a stop-and-search operation at Katuru Bridge along the Shinkafi–Katuru–Isa road, troops intercepted three suspects with ₦8.7 million. On the same day, two more suspects were arrested in a Toyota Corolla with ₦15 million.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the cash was ransom collected from locals abducted near Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic.
The suspects and the recovered money have been handed over to relevant authorities for further investigation.
In another coordinated effort, Sector 2 OPFY troops operating in Anka and Tureta ambushed terrorists transporting rustled livestock from Talata Mafara and Tureta.
“The criminals abandoned their captives and livestock as the gun battle intensified,” the statement added.
