Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have killed a suspected terrorist lieutenant during a clearance operation in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to Channels Television, the operation was conducted on Saturday, August 29, 2026, after troops of Sector 2 advanced into identified terrorist enclaves in the area.
Troops Encounter Resistance
The Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the troops encountered stiff resistance from armed terrorists during the operation.
He said the soldiers responded with superior firepower, forcing the fighters to abandon the area and flee.
During a subsequent search of the enclave, troops reportedly discovered the body of a terrorist identified as “Smally.”
The military described him as a lieutenant to Kachalla Muhammadu Filani, an alleged terrorist leader operating in the area.
Machine Guns and Rifles Recovered
The troops recovered three machine guns, two AK-47 rifles, 11 magazines and 180 rounds of ammunition.
Six motorcycles allegedly used by the terrorists were also recovered during the operation.
The military said the offensive formed part of sustained efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, restrict their movement and weaken their operational capabilities across the North-West.
The reported death and status of “Smally” are based on the military’s account and had not been independently verified at the time of publication.
Troops Foil Separate Kukawa Attack
In a related development, troops of Operation Hadin Kai foiled a terrorist attack on Kukawa town in Borno State after fighters attacked personnel of the 101 Special Forces Battalion at about 10:50 p.m. on Friday, August 28.
The military said ground troops responded with direct and indirect fire, forcing the attackers to retreat towards the Cross Kauwa axis.
Air Strikes Target Fleeing Terrorists
The Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai subsequently conducted two strikes against the fleeing fighters.
The first strike reportedly killed about 10 terrorists who had taken shelter beneath trees.
Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets later tracked about 20 motorcycles travelling towards the Tunbuns-Kangarwa axis, prompting a second strike that reportedly killed another 15 terrorists and destroyed 10 motorcycles.
Ground troops later killed one additional fighter and recovered two motorcycles, ammunition and other items, bringing the military’s reported death toll to 26.
Four Soldiers Injured
Four military personnel sustained injuries during the confrontation. The military said none of the injuries was life-threatening and that the soldiers were evacuated for treatment in stable condition.
Troops have commenced further clearance operations and battle-damage assessment in the area.
The casualty figures from the Kukawa operation were supplied by the military and had not been independently confirmed.
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