Troops of Joint Task Force, North West, Operation Fansan Yamma have commenced a deliberate offensive operation, code-named Operation Clean Sweep III, targeting terrorist and bandit elements operating within Matazu Local Government Area and adjoining communities in Katsina State.
Its Media Information Officer, Lt-Col. Aliyu Danja in a statement issued Monday said the operation was launched following the unfortunate incident that led to the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd), who was abducted alongside his wife by suspected terrorists and bandits in the area.
He noted that the operation was aimed at locating and neutralising the perpetrators of the heinous act, dismantling criminal networks and restoring security within the affected communities.
Danja stressed that since the commencement of the operation on 14 June 2026, troops have conducted aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search operations and clearance missions across identified criminal hideouts and suspected terrorist enclaves within the Joint Operations Area (JOA).
He added: “In the course of the ongoing offensive, troops recorded notable successes in the Dikkawa Hills general area and surrounding communities.
“Troops conducted clearance operations on identified terrorist hideouts in Adua, Nasarawa and Karaduwa areas, where several criminal enclaves were searched and combed. During the operations, terrorists’ life-support structures and logistics bases were discovered and destroyed, further degrading the criminals’ ability to operate within the area.
“The operation is being conducted in close collaboration with sister services, other security agencies and local stakeholders whose support continues to contribute significantly to ongoing efforts aimed at improving security within the state.”