By Ayox Ojo

Nigerian troops have intercepted a 57-year-old man, Sani Umar, with 180 units of 20mm Superpower explosives allegedly being transported for delivery to suspected terrorist elements from Zamfara to Katsina State.

Umar was intercepted in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State by troops of Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY) who were conducting routine snap checks on vehicles.

Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA in a statement on Saturday said the suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation.

Danja added that in other operations, the troops recorded significant successes through the killing of terrorists and recovery of weapons.

Giving detail of the operations, the spokesperson revealed that troops of Sector 2 killed two terrorists, recovered two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles after a fierce firefight with the insurgents around Garin Kaso area of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of the state.

“As the operation progressed, another group of terrorists attempted to ambush the troops from concealed positions. The troops responded decisively and successfully fought through the ambush, inflicting further casualties on the terrorists and forcing the surviving elements to flee.

“Although the exact number of terrorist casualties from the subsequent encounter is yet to be confirmed, reports from the communities within the general area indicated that several terrorists with apparent gunshot wounds, as well as bodies of their neutralized colleagues, were evacuated by the fleeing elements following the encounter. This further indicates the significant pressure being brought to bear on terrorist groups as troops continue to take the fight to their enclaves,” Danja said.

He added that the operations demonstrated the sustained offensive posture of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in simultaneously taking the fight to terrorist enclaves and disrupting the logistics networks that provide them with weapons, explosives and other resources required to perpetrate violence.

“The Theatre Command remains resolute in sustaining the momentum of ongoing operations and will continue to deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North West,” said Danja.