KEY POINTS

• Troops arrested three suspected gun runners in Zamfara.
• An AK-103-2 rifle and 30 rounds were recovered.
• Six kidnapped victims were rescued along the Anka–Gummi Road.

Nigerian troops have intercepted three suspected gun runners and rescued six kidnapped victims in separate operations in Zamfara State, as security forces intensify efforts to disrupt terrorist and criminal networks operating across the North-West.

The operations were carried out on Sunday, August 23, by troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, according to a statement issued on Monday by the task force’s Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.

In the first operation, troops from Sector 2 intercepted a vehicle along the Kaura Namoda–Shinkafi Road after suspecting its occupants of transporting illegal weapons.

A search of the vehicle uncovered an AK-103-2 rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition. The weapon and ammunition were reportedly concealed inside a bag of millet, apparently in an attempt to evade security checks and avoid detection by troops operating along the route.

Military authorities said preliminary investigations indicated that the weapons were being transported to Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The three suspects were arrested and taken into military custody alongside the recovered firearm, ammunition and other items found in their possession.

They are expected to undergo further investigation to determine their links to terrorist or criminal networks and establish the intended recipients of the weapons.

Six Kidnap Victims Rescued

In a separate operation later the same day, troops responded to reports of an attack on motorists along the Anka–Gummi Road.

According to the military, suspected terrorists had attacked motorists and were attempting to force their victims into a nearby forest when troops arrived at the scene.

The intervention reportedly triggered an aggressive pursuit of the attackers. Faced with the advancing troops, the assailants fled into the surrounding area and abandoned all six captives.

The troops immediately secured the victims and moved them to safety.

Three of the rescued victims sustained minor injuries during the attack and were evacuated to a medical facility for treatment. The military said their condition was stable.

The Joint Task Force said the two operations underscored its ongoing efforts to disrupt the movement and supply of weapons to terrorist groups while protecting communities, motorists and other civilians across Zamfara and the wider North-West.

The task force said it would continue to rely on intelligence-led operations, aggressive patrols and rapid responses to security threats across its area of responsibility.