Troops arrest three suspected arms dealers, rescue six kidnap victims in Zamfara

Troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have arrested three suspected arms dealers and rescued six people who were reportedly kidnapped during separate operations in Zamfara State.

The military also recovered an AK-103-2 rifle, a magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition during the operations conducted on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

The Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt Col Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.

According to Danja, troops of Sector 2 stopped a vehicle on the Kaura Namoda-Shinkafi Road and discovered the weapon and ammunition hidden in a bag of millet.

He said preliminary findings suggested that the arms were being transported to Yar-Galadima in Maru Local Government Area.

Danja said the three suspects had been taken into military custody along with the recovered items as investigations continued.

He added that troops responding to an attack on motorists along the Anka-Gummi Road engaged the attackers as they attempted to move their victims into a forest.

The military spokesman said pressure from the troops forced the attackers to abandon the six victims and flee.

Three of the rescued victims, who suffered minor injuries, were taken to a medical facility and were said to be in stable condition.

Danja said the operations were part of efforts to cut off the flow of weapons to criminal and terrorist groups.