Troops of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have disrupted an alleged logistics operation by notorious terrorist kingpin Shehu Bagewaye after intercepting three disassembled canoes reportedly procured to aid the movement of his fighters through riverine communities in Zamfara State.
The Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed the development in a statement issued on August 23, 2026.
According to the statement, the operation was launched after credible intelligence revealed that the canoes had been purchased in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State and were being transported into Zamfara for use by the terrorist group.
The intelligence further indicated that the canoes were intended to help the terrorists overcome river crossings that had restricted their movement, giving them easier access to remote communities where they could carry out attacks and other criminal activities.
Acting on the information, troops of Sector 2 conducted a covert operation along the identified route and intercepted the three canoes before they reached their intended destination. The individuals conveying the items reportedly abandoned the canoes and fled on sighting the advancing troops.
The military described the recovery as a significant blow to the terrorists’ logistics network, noting that the interception prevented the equipment from reaching the criminal group and denied them an important mobility advantage.
The operation also reflects the growing effectiveness of intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting the supply chains and support systems that sustain terrorist activities across the North-West.
The recovered canoes are now in military custody, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved in the attempted delivery.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist networks by targeting not only armed fighters but also the logistics, supply routes and other support structures that enable their operations.
The Joint Task Force also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that community support remains vital to disrupting terrorist activities and protecting lives and property across the Joint Operations Area.
