By Yarima Haruna
Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have neutralised several suspected terrorists and recovered arms, motorcycles and rustled livestock following a fierce encounter in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The operation took place in the Maikujera general area of the local government following credible intelligence indicating that suspected terrorists were moving through the area with livestock believed to have been rustled from nearby communities.
According to the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division of the Nigerian Army and Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, troops were swiftly deployed to intercept the terrorists after receiving intelligence about their movement.
Osoba said the troops encountered an attempted ambush while advancing towards the area but responded decisively, using superior firepower and tactical manoeuvres to break through the attackers’ position.
He explained that the military response resulted in the neutralisation of several terrorists, while others were forced to abandon the engagement and retreat into the surrounding bush.
“Demonstrating high tactical readiness, the troops immediately engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, breaking through the ambush to neutralise several terrorists and forcing the remaining to retreat into the surrounding bush,” Osoba said.
Following the encounter, troops conducted an exploitation of the area and recovered AK-47 rifles, motorcycles allegedly used by the terrorists and the rustled livestock.
The latest operation forms part of the Nigerian Army’s sustained offensive against terrorist and bandit groups operating across the North-West, particularly in communities where armed groups have continued to exploit rural areas for kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal activities.
Rabah Local Government Area has previously witnessed several security incidents involving armed groups. In June 2026, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued seven kidnapped farmers and recovered motorcycles following an attack on farming communities in Gandi, also in Rabah LGA. A civilian was reportedly wounded during the encounter and was taken to the General Hospital in Gandi for treatment.
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In another operation in July, troops rescued 27 kidnapped victims and foiled multiple abduction attempts across parts of Sokoto and Zamfara states. The operations included engagements in the Shagari and Rabah areas, with troops recovering livestock and motorcycles in the process.
Security concerns around Maikujera and other communities in Rabah are not new. Previous attacks in the area have involved armed groups arriving on motorcycles, attacking residents and rustling livestock. In one reported incident in 2023, attacks on communities within the Gandi district resulted in deaths and the rustling of hundreds of animals.
The military has continued to emphasise the importance of intelligence gathering and cooperation between security agencies and local communities in tackling terrorist and bandit networks in the region.
Following the latest encounter, the Army said the general areas of Rabah and Maikujera remained calm and stable.
Osoba assured residents that troops remained firmly deployed in the area, maintaining a high level of readiness and conducting routine patrols to prevent further attacks and protect local communities.
The operation also highlights the military’s continued effort to deny armed groups freedom of movement and disrupt their activities, particularly the movement of rustled livestock and the use of rural communities as routes or hideouts.
The Army urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing credible information to security personnel, stressing that timely intelligence remains critical to preventing attacks and responding rapidly to threats.
As troops maintain their presence in Rabah and surrounding communities, security forces are expected to continue patrols and surveillance operations aimed at preventing the regrouping of the fleeing terrorists and restoring lasting security across the affected areas.
