Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Rescue 62 Hostages in Kebbi and Zamfara Operations

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (Sector 2), have eliminated two members of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Kebbi State and rescued 62 abducted persons from Munhaye Forest in Zamfara State in separate but coordinated operations.

The announcement, made by Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, highlighted the multi-agency collaboration behind the successes, involving police, DSS, NSCDC, and local vigilante groups.

Kebbi State Ambush (Lakurawa Group)

Acting on credible intelligence, troops ambushed Lakurawa terrorists near Kerani Village, on the Augie (Kebbi)–Binji (Sokoto) border.

• Outcome: Two terrorists neutralised, two motorcycles recovered.
• Details: Suspects wore camouflage uniforms and used modified motorcycles padded with blankets and fitted with pumps for long-range mobility.

The Lakurawa group—also called “Laka-Laka”—is a relatively new but expanding armed network active along the Nigeria-Niger frontier. Linked to cattle rustling, kidnapping, arms trafficking, and occasional alliances with jihadist elements, its cross-border mobility has made it a persistent threat.

Zamfara State Hostage Rescue (Munhaye Forest)

In Zamfara, troops stormed Munhaye Forest, a notorious hideout of bandit leader Kachalla Alti, freeing 62 kidnapped victims.

• Victims are undergoing medical checks, debriefing, and family tracing.
• Munhaye Forest, spanning Zurmi and Shinkafi LGAs, has long been a bandit enclave due to dense vegetation and border proximity.

Kachalla Alti is among Zamfara’s most notorious commanders, responsible for mass abductions, cattle rustling, and attacks on communities. Zamfara has recorded some of the highest kidnapping figures in Nigeria’s northwest, with ransom payments fueling arms procurement.

Operation FANSAN YAMMA

Launched in 2023, Operation FANSAN YAMMA combines kinetic and non-kinetic measures to degrade terrorist and bandit groups, secure routes, and support community stabilisation. Covering Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger states, it emphasizes inter-agency synergy and vigilante partnerships to close intelligence gaps.

These latest successes underscore the military’s sustained pressure on criminal networks in the region, where banditry has displaced hundreds of thousands and disrupted farming, worsening food insecurity. The rescue of 62 hostages is one of the largest single operations in recent months, offering relief to families and signaling ongoing efforts to dismantle hideouts.

The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to “dismantle criminal networks, restore security, and protect lives across the North West,” urging communities to continue sharing intelligence.