(SINL NIGERIA) Troops of the Joint Task Force North West under Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY) have commenced a major offensive operation, code-named Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, targeting terrorist and bandit groups operating in Matazu Local Government Area and surrounding communities in Katsina State.
SINL NIgeria Online reports that the operation was launched in response to the tragic death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted alongside his wife by suspected terrorists and bandits in the area.
Military authorities said the operation aims to track down and neutralize those responsible, dismantle criminal networks, and restore security across the affected communities.
According to a statement on Monday signed by the Media Information Officer of JTF North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops began the operation on June 14, 2026, conducting aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence-driven raids, cordon-and-search missions, and clearance operations across identified terrorist hideouts within the Joint Operations Area.
The statement disclosed that troops have already recorded significant successes, particularly in the Dikkawa Hills general area and surrounding communities.
During clearance operations in Adua, Nasarawa, and Karaduwa, security forces searched and combed several suspected terrorist enclaves.
Military authorities revealed that troops discovered and destroyed multiple terrorist logistics bases and life-support structures, a move expected to significantly weaken the operational capabilities of criminal elements in the area.
The operation is being executed in close collaboration with sister security services, other law enforcement agencies, and local stakeholders, whose support has been described as crucial to ongoing efforts aimed at improving security across Katsina State.
JTF OPFY reassured residents of Matazu and neighbouring communities of its commitment to safeguarding lives and property while denying terrorists and bandits freedom of action within the region.
The task force also appealed to members of the public to continue providing credible and timely intelligence that could aid security agencies in tracking and apprehending criminal elements, assuring that all information received would be treated with strict confidentiality.
The military emphasized that troops would sustain pressure on terrorists and bandits until the objectives of Operation CLEAN SWEEP III are fully achieved, adding that further updates would be provided as the operation progresses.
