Operation Fansan Yamma Launches Fresh Offensive Against Terrorists in North-West

The Nigerian military has launched a fresh offensive against terrorists and armed criminal groups operating across the North-West, with troops and air assets intensifying operations to disrupt their networks and prevent them from establishing new strongholds.

The operation, code-named Operation CLEAN SWEEP IV, is being conducted under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Joint Task Force (North-West) said in a statement issued on Thursday by its Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.

According to the military, the offensive involves coordinated ground and air operations targeting identified terrorist positions, movement routes and logistics networks across the region.

The objective, it said, is to degrade the capabilities of terrorist groups, restrict their movements and prevent them from expanding their activities into civilian communities.

The military said troops of Sector 2 carried out a clearance operation around suspected terrorist enclaves in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State on August 12.

The operation reportedly put significant pressure on the terrorists, forcing them to abandon their positions and retreat into surrounding bushes.

The military said the clearance operation was still ongoing in the area.

In Zamfara State, the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA conducted precision strikes following intelligence about the movement and gathering of terrorists on motorcycles in Anka Local Government Area.

According to the military, the strikes neutralised scores of terrorists, while survivors abandoned their motorcycles and fled into nearby bushes.

The Air Component subsequently tracked and engaged the fleeing terrorists, the statement added.

A major focus of the new offensive is the effort to contain and dismantle the Lakurawa terrorist network, which the military says poses a threat around Nigeria’s border areas.

Operation CLEAN SWEEP IV is designed to prevent Lakurawa elements from infiltrating and reinforcing their networks inside Nigeria, while disrupting their use of border corridors for movement and logistics.

The military said the operation would also target terrorist activities around the River Niger axis and Kainji Lake National Park.

It said the objective is to prevent armed groups from using the areas as bases for launching attacks against neighbouring communities and other parts of the North-West.

The Joint Task Force said the launch of Operation CLEAN SWEEP IV reflected its determination to maintain pressure on terrorist and criminal groups across the region.

It said troops would continue working to protect civilian communities, safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and prevent terrorist groups from regrouping or establishing new operational bases.

The military also urged residents to support security operations by providing credible information that could assist troops in identifying and disrupting terrorist activities.