In a significant operation spanning January 26 to 27, troops from the 1 Brigade under Operation FANSAN YANMA, in partnership with the Department of State Services (DSS), successfully intercepted a vehicle loaded with weapons meant for terrorist groups in Zamfara State. The operation was initiated based on credible intelligence pointing to suspected arms dealers operating out of Niger Republic.
Following the intelligence, the troops executed a covert operation to track the suspects, leading to an interception on the Kaura Namoda-Zurmi Road. Upon realizing they were being pursued, the suspects attempted to escape by driving into the bush. After a brief confrontation with the military, the suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot, leaving behind a substantial cache of arms.
The vehicle was found to contain two PKT machine guns, nine AK-47 rifles, 13 magazines, 171 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and nine rounds of PKT ammunition. Despite the successful seizure of the weapons, the suspects managed to escape, prompting an intensified manhunt by the combined forces of the military and DSS to capture them and dismantle the arms trafficking network.
Counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama reported the details of this operation via his verified X account on Tuesday, highlighting the ongoing efforts to prevent further arms from reaching terrorist groups in the region. This incident underscores the persistent challenge of arms smuggling across Nigeria’s borders, particularly from neighboring countries like Niger, and the continuous efforts by security forces to curb this menace.
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