Troops arrest drug peddler, foil terrorist attack

…rescue two victims in Kaduna, Sokoto

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), have arrested a suspected illicit drug peddler in Kaduna State, foiled a terrorist attack, and rescued two kidnapped victims in Sokoto State.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, the operations were carried out separately on September 12 and 13, 2026.

Danja said troops of Sector 1, while conducting a stop-and-search operation along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari road on September 12, intercepted a suspect identified as Yohana Musa.

According to him, Musa was allegedly found with a large quantity of illicit drugs and other substances while travelling towards Birnin Gwari.

“The suspect and recovered items are currently in troops’ custody for further investigation,” the statement said.

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In Sokoto State, troops of Sector 2 responded to a distress call following a terrorist attack on the Unguwan Lalle community in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area on September 13.

Danja said the troops engaged the terrorists with firepower, forcing them to withdraw and enabling the rescue of two kidnapped victims.

“Troops made contact with the terrorists, engaging them with firepower and forcing them to withdraw in disarray, rescuing two kidnapped victims in the process,” he said.

He added that troops later received intelligence about an attempt by the terrorists to regroup and immediately mobilised to the location.

According to him, the troops re-established contact with the terrorists and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing them to withdraw again.

During an exploitation of the area, the troops recovered 157 rounds of PKT ammunition, phone batteries, and other items believed to have been abandoned by the terrorists.

Danja said the Theatre Commander commended the troops for their “gallantry and professionalism” in sustaining operational successes across the Joint Operations Area.

He added that the commander remained committed to denying terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action in the North-West.

The Joint Task Force also urged members of the public to continue providing “timely and credible information” to security agencies to support ongoing counter-terrorism and other security operations.