Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued six people believed to have been kidnapped and arrested three suspected gun runners during separate security operations in Zamfara State.
The operations, conducted in different parts of the state, are part of ongoing efforts by security forces to disrupt the activities of armed criminal groups operating across the North-West.
The latest development was disclosed in a post shared on X on Tuesday by security analyst Bakatsine, who said the operations were carried out on Sunday as troops intensified their offensive against criminal networks in the state.
Three suspected gun runners intercepted
In one of the operations, troops reportedly stopped a vehicle along the Kaura Namoda-Shinkafi Road and arrested three suspects believed to be involved in the illegal movement of firearms.
A search of the vehicle allegedly led to the discovery of a military-style rifle and ammunition concealed in an unusual manner.
According to the report, security personnel recovered an AK-103-2 rifle, one magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition hidden inside a bag of millet.
The suspects and recovered weapons were taken into custody for further investigation, as authorities work to establish where the firearms were obtained and their intended destination.
The interception is considered significant because illicit firearms are frequently used by armed criminal groups involved in kidnapping, banditry and other violent activities across Zamfara and neighbouring states.
Six kidnapped victims rescued
In a separate operation, troops also succeeded in rescuing six kidnapped victims during their operations across the state.
The identities of the rescued individuals and the circumstances surrounding their abduction were not immediately disclosed.
It was also unclear from the initial report whether any ransom was paid before the victims were rescued or whether security forces located them through intelligence-led operations.
The rescue nevertheless represents another step in the military’s continuing efforts to put pressure on criminal groups and free people being held in captivity.
Sustained pressure on criminal networks
Zamfara remains one of the states in Nigeria’s North-West affected by armed criminal activities, particularly kidnapping and attacks on rural communities.
Security forces have increasingly focused on disrupting not only the fighters carrying out attacks but also the networks responsible for supplying them with weapons, ammunition, motorcycles and other logistics.
The arrest of suspected gun runners therefore forms part of a broader strategy aimed at cutting off the supply routes that enable armed groups to sustain their operations.
The recovery of the AK-103-2 rifle and ammunition could also provide investigators with leads as they trace the source of the weapon and determine whether the suspects have links to other criminal networks.
Further details about the six rescued victims and the three suspects are expected to emerge as investigations continue.
