Get Guardian on GoogleIn a daring continuation of Operation FANSAN YANMA Phase V, Nigerian troops have penetrated deep into terrorist strongholds across parts of Sokoto and Zamfara States, dismantling insurgent infrastructure and recovering weapons.
The multi-day operation, which began with coordinated assaults on identified camps, saw troops advancing through highly hostile territories including Gidan Madi, Tsamiya Village, Tudun Ruwa, Alela, and several forested areas long known as havens for terrorist factions.
Security sources told counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama that the soldiers faced multiple ambushes by fighters of the Lakurawa faction, a splinter group notorious for its entrenched operations in the North West.
Despite the resistance, troops pressed forward, clearing major hideouts beyond Alela Village, including the Areo general area, Damoria, Tumuna Village, and the densely wooded Goboro Forest.
“These locations have been long used by terrorists as logistics hubs and operational bases for launching attacks on civilian communities and security convoys,” a senior military source said.
The offensive was not without cost. One soldier was wounded in action (WIA) during the engagements, while a vigilante supporting the operation lost his life. The wounded soldier was evacuated to the 8 Division Military Hospital (8 DMSH) in Sokoto for treatment.
Troops neutralised six terrorists affiliated with the Lakurawa faction during the operation, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds, fleeing deeper into the forests.
Recovered items from the cleared camps included assorted weapons, magazines, two handheld radios, and several motorcycles believed to be used for communication and mobility within the terrorist networks.
