Troops of the Nigerian Army have dealt a major blow to terrorist elements operating in Sokoto State after eliminating several fighters linked to the Lakurawa group during a coordinated offensive in the Kadam Forest.
The operation was carried out by troops of the Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Battalion 7 in collaboration with the 8 Division Strike Team under the Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Sector 2 Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the successful raid was based on credible intelligence indicating that a large number of terrorists had assembled inside the forest to plan attacks and kidnappings in nearby communities.
The intelligence report suggested that more than 100 armed fighters linked to the Lakurawa group had gathered at the location to coordinate violent operations across parts of Sokoto and surrounding areas.
Acting swiftly on the information, the troops mobilised to the forest and launched a surprise assault on the terrorists’ positions, leading to an intense firefight that forced the criminals into disarray.
During the operation, many of the terrorists were neutralised while others fled into the thick forest under heavy military pressure.
Military sources said the troops also recovered a cache of weapons and other items believed to belong to the fleeing terrorists, further weakening the group’s operational capability in the area.
Lieutenant Colonel Osoba noted that the offensive formed part of ongoing clearance operations being conducted across the North-West to dismantle terrorist enclaves and restore lasting peace to affected communities.
He explained that Operation Fansan Yamma has continued to intensify pressure on armed groups operating in forests and remote settlements, which have long served as hideouts for criminal elements responsible for attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling.
Security analysts say Kadam Forest has increasingly become a refuge for armed groups attempting to evade security forces while planning attacks on vulnerable communities across Sokoto State.
However, sustained military operations in the region have significantly disrupted the activities of these groups in recent months.
Local residents in communities around the forest have welcomed the development, expressing hope that the successful operation would help reduce the frequency of attacks and kidnappings that have troubled parts of the state.
Military authorities reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the momentum of operations in the North-West, stressing that troops will continue to pursue terrorist elements wherever they hide.
They also urged residents to support ongoing security efforts by providing credible information that could assist the military and other security agencies in tracking down criminal groups.
Officials believe that the combination of intelligence-driven operations, community cooperation and sustained military pressure remains critical to dismantling terrorist networks and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the region.
The latest operation in Kadam Forest, according to security observers, underscores the growing determination of the armed forces to deny terrorists safe havens and restore stability to communities in Sokoto and the wider North-West zone.
