By Muda Shehu
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s COAS Special Intervention Battalion 7, Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have dislodged terrorists from their enclave in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, recovering a PKT machine gun, AK-47 rifles, ammunition, motorcycles and other logistical materials.
The operation, which targeted terrorist positions in Manu, Alkasim and Kandam villages as well as the Magarya forest axis, was carried out as part of the ongoing offensive to dismantle terrorist enclaves and deny criminal elements freedom of movement across the North-West.
Military sources said troops moved into the identified threat areas following intelligence on the presence and activities of armed terrorists.
The troops eventually contacted the terrorists inside the Magarya forest enclave and engaged them with superior firepower, forcing the criminals to abandon their positions and flee deep into the forest.
The source described the engagement as a major setback for the terrorists, saying the operation had further increased pressure on criminal networks operating in the area.
Following the encounter, the troops launched an aggressive follow-up operation and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area.
The operation yielded a cache of weapons and ammunition, including a PKT machine gun, AK-47 rifles and a large quantity of 7.62 x 54mm belted ammunition.
Several motorcycles and assorted logistical and miscellaneous materials believed to have been used to sustain the terrorists’ operations were also recovered.
A military source said the recovery of the weapons and ammunition had further weakened the terrorists’ operational capacity.
“The recovery of the PKT machine gun and large quantity of ammunition is particularly significant,” the source said, noting that such weapons could provide substantial firepower during attacks on security personnel and civilian communities.
The recovered motorcycles, the source added, were believed to have been used by the terrorists as mobility assets for movement through difficult forest terrain and remote settlements.
The troops have since maintained a strong operational presence in the area, conducting sustained patrols and follow-up operations to prevent the terrorists from regrouping or returning to the cleared enclave.
The military also issued a stern warning to terrorists and their collaborators, vowing to continue the offensive until their operational networks are dismantled.
The source warned terrorists still operating in the area to abandon their criminal activities, stressing that “the continuing offensive would leave them with no safe haven.”
The troops also reassured residents of their determination to secure surrounding communities and restore confidence in the affected areas.
The latest operation in Tangaza, the military said, represents another significant blow to terrorist activities in Sokoto State, as troops intensify efforts to dismantle criminal strongholds and deny terrorists the freedom to threaten the lives and livelihoods of law-abiding citizens.
