In a significant breakthrough in the ongoing military campaign against insurgency in Katsina State, troops under Operation FANSAN YANMA have successfully neutralized 21 terrorists during a daring assault on a notorious hideout in Ruwan Godiya.
The operation, spearheaded by the 17 Brigade Strike Group, commenced at approximately 8:50 a.m. on May 25 and continued into the evening hours. According to security sources, the troops launched a meticulously coordinated strike on the insurgents’ base, resulting in intense combat that ultimately forced the terrorists to flee.
Eyewitness intelligence reports indicate that the fleeing militants tried to escape through dense bushes and rocky hills, using a herd of cattle as cover. However, the soldiers pursued them relentlessly, engaging them even as some attempted to cross a river under fire. Several insurgents were killed in the process, including those swept away by the current.
The troops also dealt a heavy blow to the terrorists’ infrastructure by destroying livestock and critical supplies, effectively disrupting their operations in the area.
Military officials confirmed that the operation was executed without any casualties among the troops. Alongside the 21 neutralized terrorists, a substantial collection of weapons and equipment was recovered from the site. Seized items include:
- One General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG)
- Five AK-47 rifles
- One pump-action shotgun
- Twenty-one AK-47 magazines and seventeen magazine chargers
- 448 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition
- 64 rounds of belted 7.62mm NATO ammunition
- Two RPG-7 chargers and one RPG-7 bomb
- Five CS 48mm hand grenades
Also recovered were communication gadgets such as a Baofeng high-frequency radio, six mobile phones with spare batteries, as well as tactical gear including a camouflage jungle hat, three magazine pouches, and a manual motorcycle pump.
Personal effects found on the scene comprised three jungle bags filled with charms, an empty wallet, and a total of N15,260 in local currency.
All confiscated items are currently in military custody for analysis and further operational use. Cleanup operations are ongoing in the vicinity to eliminate any remaining threats and ensure long-term stability in the region.
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