Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have arrested three suspected terrorist collaborators in Kaduna State and destroyed several terrorist hideouts in Katsina State in separate operations carried out on August 27 and 28.
Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday.
Col. Danja said the Kaduna operation began after troops of Sector 1 received information about a suspected collaborator. He was arrested with two locally made guns and 13 rounds of ammunition concealed in a bag.
He said during preliminary questioning, the suspect reportedly told investigators that he was taking the weapons and ammunition to another person.
The military spokesman said the troops acted on the information and arrested two more suspects said to be connected to the movement of the arms.
He said three suspects remain in custody as investigation continues into their alleged links and the intended destination of the weapons.
In Katsina, troops of Sector 2, working with other security agencies, carried out a clearance operation around Maharba and Karaduwa in Matazu Local Government Area on August 28.
He said the operation led to the destruction of terrorist hideouts and other structures believed to have been used to support their activities.
One of the enclaves was linked to Kachalla Muhammadu Filani, a terrorist leader whose group has been operating in parts of Matazu and Musawa local government areas.
Filani reportedly escaped as troops closed in on the location.
A follow-up search of the area led to the recovery of an RPG-7 tube, a motorcycle, mobile phones and other items. Troops also carried out fighting patrols in the area to prevent the terrorists from returning to the locations.
The Joint Task Force said troops would continue operations across the North West to weaken terrorist groups and improve security in affected communities.
