Soldiers Foil Terrorist Attack in Sokoto, Rescue Two Kidnap Victims

Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have foiled a terrorist attack in Sokoto State and rescued two kidnapped victims during a military response to an attack on a community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

The operation was conducted on Sunday, September 13, 2026, after troops of Sector 2 responded to a distress call reporting a terrorist attack on Unguwan Lalle. According to the JTF, the troops engaged the attackers and forced them to withdraw, rescuing two kidnapped victims in the process.

The terrorists reportedly attempted to regroup after their initial withdrawal. Acting on intelligence received after the first encounter, the troops moved to the area where the attackers were believed to have regrouped and engaged them again in a gun battle.

The renewed confrontation forced the terrorists to retreat once more, according to the JTF. During a subsequent search of the area, troops recovered 157 rounds of PKT ammunition, phone batteries and other items believed to have been left behind by the fleeing attackers.

The operation forms part of the wider military campaign being conducted by Operation FANSAN YAMMA against terrorist and criminal networks operating across Nigeria's North-West. The task force has continued to rely on rapid responses to distress calls, intelligence gathering and offensive operations to disrupt attacks and rescue people held by armed groups.

The latest operation is significant because the troops were able to intervene while an attack was underway and prevent the attackers from maintaining control of the area. The rescue of two kidnapped victims also demonstrates the importance of rapid military mobilisation when communities come under attack.

However, the operation does not mean the wider security threat in the area has been eliminated. The fact that the attackers were able to regroup after their initial withdrawal highlights the continuing challenge of dealing with armed groups operating across remote communities and difficult terrain.

The recovery of ammunition and other operational items could also provide investigators with information about the attackers and their activities. Further intelligence gathering will be necessary to determine the identity of the group involved and whether the recovered items can assist security agencies in tracking its members.

The JTF has urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies, stressing that cooperation from communities remains important to preventing attacks and improving the effectiveness of military operations.

The two rescued victims have been taken into military custody following the operation, while security forces continue efforts to maintain pressure on terrorist elements operating in the area.