By Kazeem Waris
Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have destroyed Lakurawa terrorists’ camps in Waria Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing several insurgents and recovering weapons and five motorcycles in a major counter-terrorism operation.
The offensive, conducted on October 15, 2026, targeted terrorist enclaves in the forest as the military intensified efforts to dismantle armed groups’ hideouts and disrupt their operations across Sokoto State.
The Theatre Command said troops of Sector 2 launched the clearance operation after advancing through identified terrorist enclaves around Alela, Bilange and Kandam villages towards Waria Forest, where they made contact with the armed elements.
According to the military, the encounter triggered a firefight during which troops deployed superior firepower, forcing the terrorists to abandon their positions and flee deeper into the forest.
The troops pursued the fleeing insurgents and neutralised several of them. However, the military did not disclose the exact number of terrorists killed during the operation.
A subsequent search of the area led to the discovery and destruction of the terrorists’ camps and associated life-support structures believed to have sustained their presence and activities in the forest.
The troops also recovered weapons and five motorcycles suspected to have been used by the armed group for movement and other operational activities. Details of the recovered weapons were not immediately available.
The Theatre Command said clearance and domination operations were continuing in the area to prevent the terrorists from regrouping, rebuilding their camps or regaining freedom of movement.
It stressed that sustained military pressure was necessary to deny armed groups safe havens in remote forests and other difficult-to-access locations where they could organise attacks and threaten surrounding communities.
In a press statement issued on October 15, the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the operation demonstrated the command’s determination to sustain pressure on terrorist elements and dismantle their enclaves.
The command commended the troops for their courage, resilience and commitment to ongoing counter-terrorism operations, reaffirming its resolve to support efforts to restore peace and security across the region.
It also called on residents to provide timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities in their communities, describing public cooperation as critical to the fight against terrorism.
The latest offensive comes amid persistent security challenges across parts of north-western Nigeria, where armed groups continue to threaten lives, livelihoods and community safety.
The military maintained that sustained operations, effective intelligence gathering and cooperation with local communities would remain central to efforts to prevent terrorist groups from re-establishing their bases and expanding their activities.
