Troops of the 8 Division Garrison, Sector 2 of Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY), have foiled a planned bandit attack on communities in Zamfara State, recovering weapons, ammunition, motorcycles and military uniforms during the operation.

The successful operation followed credible intelligence indicating that armed bandits were mobilising to attack villages around the Hanger axis in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state.

A military source told journalists that acting on the intelligence, troops strategically positioned themselves at Kwanar Jollof in Jangeru Village, Shinkafi Local Government Area, and laid an ambush for the suspected attackers.

According to the source, the troops engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle immediately they were sighted, forcing them to abandon their mission and flee into the forest.

Items recovered during the operation included one PKT machine gun, a cache of ammunition, two motorcycles, chains and eight pairs of military uniforms.

The source noted that the recovered uniforms were being used by the bandits to deceive residents by impersonating military personnel.
“The criminals often disguise themselves in military uniforms to gain the trust of unsuspecting members of the public before carrying out their operations,” the source said.

The military attributed the success of the operation to effective intelligence gathering and sustained offensive actions under Operation Fansan Yamma, aimed at denying terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of movement across the North-West.

Zamfara State has remained one of the epicentres of banditry in the region for more than a decade, with armed groups operating from forest enclaves and launching attacks across several North-West states.

The criminal gangs have increasingly relied on kidnapping for ransom as a major source of funding, often holding victims in remote camps under harsh conditions while demanding payments from their families.

Military authorities reiterated their commitment to sustaining aggressive operations against terrorists and other criminal groups. They also appealed to residents to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to restore peace and security across the region.