Military kills terrorist commanders, sacks 40 in Sokoto, Zamfara hideouts

In a significant breakthrough against terrorism in the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have eliminated several notorious terrorist commanders and dismantled multiple hideouts in Zamfara and Sokoto states.

The coordinated military offensive, carried out between February 1 and 10, 2025, delivered a major blow to terrorist networks operating in the region, restoring a sense of security to affected communities.

The Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

 Abdullahi said, “Among those eliminated were high-profile terrorist leaders Kachalla Na Faransa, Dogon Bakkwalo, Auta Gobaje, and Dan Mai Dutsi.”

He revealed that the fierce battles took place in Shinkafi and Zurmi Local Government Areas of Zamfara State, as well as Isa LGA of Sokoto State.

“Military operations targeted and dismantled over 40 terrorist hideouts, including those in Tungar Fulani, Unguwar Goga, Gangara Hill, and Gidan Maji,” he said.

The operations also resulted in the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition, preventing further attacks on innocent civilians.

Additionally, troops successfully rescued dozens of kidnapped victims, offering relief to families that had been living in fear.

Abdullahi reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining its offensive against terrorism across the North-West and parts of Niger State.

 He urged the public to provide intelligence on fleeing terrorists, including the notorious Bello Turji and his associates, assuring that all information would be treated with strict confidentiality.

“With this latest success, Operation Fansan Yamma has dealt a serious blow to terrorist operations in the region, bolstering ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in northwest Nigeria,” he added.