Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have overrun a Lakurawa terrorists’ enclave in Waria Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing several fighters and recovering weapons and five motorcycles.
The operation was conducted on Thursday, October 15, during a clearance mission targeting identified terrorists’ hideouts in the area.
In a statement, the Media Information Officer of the joint task force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said troops of Sector 2 advanced through identified enclaves around Alela, Bilange and Kandam villages towards Waria Forest before engaging the terrorists.
He said the troops overpowered the fighters during a gun battle, forcing them to abandon their positions and flee deeper into the forest.
The troops subsequently pursued the fleeing terrorists, killing some of them in the process, according to the statement.
Mr Danja said further searches of the area led to the destruction of the terrorists’ camps and other structures used to support their operations.
He added that troops recovered weapons and five motorcycles during the operation.
The military spokesman said troops had maintained a strong presence in the area and continued clearance operations to deny the terrorists freedom of movement and improve security in surrounding communities.
He said the operation was part of ongoing efforts by Operation Fansan Yamma to dismantle terrorist hideouts, prevent the group from using forests as safe havens and restore security across the joint operations area.
The theatre command commended the troops for their courage and sustained operational efforts.
It also urged residents to support the military by providing timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities in their communities.