Nigerian Army troops operating in Sokoto State have forced suspected terrorist elements to abandon a forest position during an offensive operation in Tangaza Local Government Area, recovering firearms, ammunition, motorcycles and other items from the area.
The operation was conducted by troops of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion 7, Sector 2, under Operation Fansan Yamma, as part of continuing efforts to clear terrorist enclaves and restrict the movement and operational activities of armed groups across the North-West.
Counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama disclosed details of the operation in a post on X, stating that the troops moved through several locations identified as terrorist threat areas before making contact with the armed elements in the Magarya forest axis.
The advance took the troops through Manu, Alkasim and Kandam villages, as well as the Magarya forest area. According to Makama, the operation intensified when soldiers encountered the terrorists inside the forest enclave.
The troops engaged the armed elements during the encounter and, according to the account, used superior firepower to force them out of their positions. The terrorists subsequently fled deeper into the forest, leaving behind weapons and other equipment.
Weapons recovered after forest engagement
Rather than ending the operation after the terrorists withdrew, the troops conducted follow-up activities in the area and carried out a thorough search of the positions the armed elements had abandoned.
The search resulted in the recovery of a PKT machine gun, AK-47 rifles and a large quantity of 7.62 x 54mm belted ammunition.
Several motorcycles were also recovered, alongside assorted logistical and miscellaneous items found within the operational area.
Makama said the recovered weapons and mobility assets were believed to have been used by the terrorists to support their activities in the area.
The recovery of the equipment followed the troops’ engagement with the armed elements and their subsequent withdrawal into the forest. The seizure effectively deprived the fleeing group of firearms, ammunition and motorcycles that could have supported further operations.
The operation also allowed the soldiers to maintain pressure on the terrorist elements after they abandoned their positions, with the follow-up search aimed at identifying and recovering equipment left behind during the retreat.
Operation Fansan Yamma sustains offensive
The latest operation is part of the continuing offensive campaign under Operation Fansan Yamma, through which Nigerian Army formations are targeting terrorist enclaves and attempting to restrict the ability of armed groups to move freely and operate from remote locations across the North-West.
In Tangaza, the troops’ movement across the identified threat areas brought them into contact with the terrorists in the Magarya forest. The subsequent exchange forced the armed elements to retreat, according to the account provided by Makama.
The operation demonstrates the military’s continued focus on areas considered vulnerable to terrorist activity, particularly locations that can provide cover for armed groups and facilitate movement through surrounding communities.
Following the recovery of the weapons and other items, the troops reportedly maintained a strong operational posture in the general area.
Makama said the continued presence of the troops was intended to prevent the terrorists from regrouping after fleeing the forest and to strengthen security around surrounding communities.
“The troops have continued to maintain a strong operational posture and dominate the general area to prevent the terrorists from regrouping and to ensure the security of surrounding communities,” he said.
The continued domination of the area is also intended to consolidate the gains made during the clearance operation. By remaining in the operational zone after the terrorists fled, troops can maintain pressure on the armed elements and limit their ability to re-establish positions in the locations that have been cleared.
Focus on denying terrorists freedom of movement
A central objective of the operation, according to Makama, is to deny terrorist groups freedom of movement within the North-West.
The movement through Manu, Alkasim, Kandam and the Magarya forest axis was therefore part of a wider effort to identify and clear locations being used by armed elements.
The recovery of the PKT machine gun, AK-47 rifles, ammunition and motorcycles adds to the material gains recorded during the operation. The motorcycles, in particular, were among the mobility assets recovered from the area after the terrorists fled.
The military campaign under Operation Fansan Yamma is intended to disrupt terrorist operations by targeting their hideouts, mobility and logistical resources while maintaining security around affected communities.
Makama said the latest operation formed part of ongoing offensive efforts to dismantle terrorist enclaves and restore peace and stability across the North-West.
“The operation is part of the ongoing offensive efforts under Operation Fansan Yamma to dismantle terrorist enclaves and restore peace and stability across the North-West,” he said.
The account did not provide figures for casualties among the troops or terrorists involved in the encounter, nor did it identify the specific terrorist organisation to which the armed elements belonged.
However, the reported recovery of firearms, ammunition, motorcycles and other logistical materials indicates that troops were able to seize equipment from the forest position after forcing the terrorists to withdraw.
With troops maintaining their presence in the area, the immediate focus is now on preventing the fleeing elements from regrouping and protecting communities around the affected axis.
The operation in Tangaza consequently forms part of the broader military effort to sustain pressure on terrorist groups in the North-West, clear identified enclaves and limit their ability to use remote locations as bases for movement and operations.
Troops Dislodge Terrorists, Recover PKT Machine Gun and Motorcycles in Sokoto
![Thousands protest the delayed cleanup of illegally dumped hazardous waste in Croatia's Lika region, in Zagreb, Croatia, on September 5, 2026 [Borut Zivulovic/Reuters]](https://i0.wp.com/wifeynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/17886353510374468637201203996181.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1)
