Nigerian troops rescue dozens in northwestern terror ops

Nigerian military forces have reported a series of successful counter-terrorism operations across several northwestern states over recent days, rescuing dozens of kidnapped civilians, repelling attacks, and neutralizing suspected militants. The actions were conducted by troops of the Joint Task Force North West, known as Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

In the latest engagements, troops on June 21 and 22 repelled an attempted terrorist infiltration of Tureta town in Sokoto State after acting on intelligence. The military stated that the armed group was forced to flee. Aerial surveillance then tracked the fleeing militants to Sulubawa Gidan Kare village, where they were seen moving with abducted civilians and rustled livestock. Troops pursued the group, fought through an ambush, and successfully rescued the abductees. They also recovered cattle and seized two motorcycles.

In a separate pre-dawn raid on June 22 in the Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, troops targeted a suspected terrorist enclave. Two militants were neutralized in the firefight, while others fled with gunshot wounds. The operation yielded the recovery of a PKT assault rifle, an AK-47 rifle with ammunition,...