The Nigerian military has said that troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, intercepted no fewer than 180 units of superpower explosives destined for terrorists in Katsina State. DownloadingInteractive Geographic Maps

The military revealed that the explosives were detected and intercepted by troops along the Kaura-Zurmi Road in Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State during an intelligence-led clearance operation.

Speaking during the weekly briefing on the operational activities of troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria across the federation, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said that troops also apprehended the suspect conveying the illicit explosives to terrorists in Katsina State to cause havoc.

“On 15 August 2026, another suspect was arrested in Gusau, Zamfara State, in connection with the same explosives supply chain. On 16 August 2026, troops arrested suspected collaborators of a notorious terrorist kingpin along the Sakajiki-Kwanar Guiwa Road in Kaura Namoda LGA of Zamfara State, recovering cash and motorcycles intended for onward delivery to the kingpin’s camp.

“In a series of rescue operations between 17 and 19 August 2026, troops recovered a combined total of 28 abducted victims across Bukkuyum LGA in Zamfara State; Sabuwa and Kankara LGAs in Katsina State; and Isa LGA in Sokoto State, with all victims subsequently handed over to local authorities for reunification with their families,” Major General Onoja said.

In a related development, troops unmasked and apprehended six additional informants linked to the abduction of an immigration officer’s family, as well as staff and students of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda.

“On 19 August 2026, troops also arrested a suspected terrorist informant in Shanono LGA of Kano State for allegedly monitoring troop deployments and equipment on behalf of terrorists,” Onoja said.

He further revealed that 47 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops of Operation Hadin Kai within the period under review, citing hunger as one of the reasons for their surrender.

The director said: “Between 16 and 20 August 2026, a total of 47 terrorist family members, comprising women and children, surrendered to troops at locations including Amuda Bridge in Gwoza LGA and Mafa in Mafa LGA of Borno State, citing hunger, insecurity and factional clashes within terrorist enclaves as reasons for fleeing.

“All were documented and handed over to relevant authorities for further action. Similarly, between 15 and 20 August 2026, six terrorist fighters surrendered to troops in Kukawa LGA of Borno State. A cordon-and-search operation on 20 August 2026 around Bewac, along the Al-Ansar University-Baga Road in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, led to the arrest of a suspect found in possession of ammunition.”

Onoja said troops of the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, operating under Operation Delta Sentinel, disrupted three illegal refining sites in the Egbema axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA of Rivers State.

He also revealed that approximately 85,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil were recovered from eight dugout pits, sacks and reservoirs.

The operation, he said, followed an earlier disruption of two illegal refining sites within the same area, highlighting the AFN’s sustained commitment to degrading illegal refining networks and protecting the nation’s critical petroleum assets. (THISDAY)

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