The Joint Task Force North West has initiated Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Operation CLEAN SWEEP IV.
“This is a major co-ordinated offensive to smash terrorist and criminal networks across the North West region.
The Theatre Command launched the operation on Wednesday August 12, 2026, saying it is aimed at ramping up pressure on terrorist and armed criminal elements, disrupting their networks and preventing infiltration and expansion of terrorist activities.
According to a statement by Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the operation is targeted at degrading terrorists’ capabilities, disrupt their movements and logistics and deny them the opportunity to establish foothold within the Nigerian communities thru coordinated ground and air actions on identified threats across the North Western States.
According to the statement, troops of Sector 2 on 12 August 2026 conducted clearance operation around suspected terrorist strongholds in Dutsinma Local Government Area in Katsina State.
The operation exerted a lot of pressure on the terrorists, who had to leave their positions and fall back to the surrounding bushes, he added. “Clearance operations are still underway in the general area.
According to credible intelligence, the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Zamfara State carried out precision attacks on terrorists’ movement and convergence on motorcycles in Anka LGA.
The strikes killed scores of militants and left survivors fleeing into nearby woods abandoning their motorcycles.
The Air assets then picked up and fought the remaining terrorists.
A key component of CLEAN SWEEP IV is the coordinated attempt to contain and dismantle the Lakurawa terrorist network across the Theatre.“The operation is to prevent infiltration and reinforcement of Lakurawa elements into Nigeria and deny the group the opportunity to exploit border areas as corridors for movement, logistics and establishment of enclaves.It added that the operation was also aimed at cutting off terrorist activities along the River Niger axis and the Kainji Lake National Park, denying them the territory as a platform for projecting violence into bordering villages and other parts of the North West.
The statement further noted, “The initiation of Operation CLEAN SWEEP IV underscores the proactive and sustained posture of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in tackling the ever-evolving terrorist threats across the region.”“The Theatre remains committed to protecting civilian communities, protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and denying terrorist elements the opportunity to regroup, reinforce or establish operational footholds,” the statement said.
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