By Sabiu Abdullahi
Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested a suspected explosives courier with 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives in Zamfara State.
The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar, was intercepted on Friday, August 14, 2026, during routine snap checks on vehicles by troops of Sector 2.
The Nigerian Army said Umar was allegedly transporting the explosives from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State to suspected terrorist elements in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to a statement posted by the Army on X on Saturday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the explosives were discovered after troops searched Umar’s vehicle.
“The suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation,” the military said.
The interception took place as troops carried out separate offensive operations against terrorist elements in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara.
The Army said troops engaged terrorists in a firefight around Garin Kaso, where two suspected terrorists were killed.
The operation also led to the recovery of two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles, according to the military.
The Army said another group of terrorists later tried to attack the troops from concealed positions but the soldiers repelled the assault.
The troops reportedly inflicted additional casualties on the terrorists and forced the surviving fighters to escape from the area.
The exact number of casualties from the second encounter was not immediately established. However, the military said information from residents indicated that the fleeing terrorists evacuated several wounded members as well as the bodies of some of those killed.
The Army said the operations reflect the continued offensive activities of Operation FANSAN YAMMA against terrorist camps and the supply routes used to move weapons and explosives to the groups.
The Theatre Command said it would sustain the operations to disrupt terrorist activities and “deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North West.”
