Army arrests suspected terrorist Auta Maikyala in Kaduna’s Kagarko

Arrest of Auta Maikyala

According to reports from 5 November 2026, personnel of the Joint Task Force, Operation Fansan Yamma, apprehended Auta Maikyala in Kagarko town, located within the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Authorities removed the suspect from a medical facility where he was receiving treatment for a gunshot injury he received during a clash with a competing group. The arrest was carried out by Sector 1 troops in cooperation with operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS).

The individual in custody is characterized as a notorious offender with connections to multiple community assaults, abductions, and livestock theft schemes. He is currently being held for the purpose of ongoing inquiries and legal proceedings.

Operations in Zamfara State

In the same week, Operation Fansan Yamma intensified clearance operations in Zamfara State. Troops conducted ground sweeps in the villages of Aljummu Hausa, Aljummu Fulani and Tunga Magaji in Maradun Local Government Area on 5 November. The mission cleared several terrorist hideouts, limiting the activities of criminal elements and improving security for local residents.

Additionally, the Air Component of the Nigerian Air Force executed interception flights targeting locations suspected of belonging to the fugitive terrorist leader Dogo Gide in the Babban Doka and Kuyumbana Forest regions of Maru Local Government Area. These operations were based on credible intelligence that terrorists were assembling to plan and coordinate criminal activities.

Why it matters

The arrest of Auta Maikyala removes a suspect involved in violent attacks, kidnapping and cattle‑rustling from the streets, potentially reducing the threat to communities in Kaduna and surrounding areas. The clearance and air interdiction operations in Zamfara State demonstrate a coordinated effort to dismantle terrorist networks and protect residents from further criminal activity.

The Joint Task Force announced its intention to sustain its operational pace throughout the Joint Operations Area while calling on citizens to share accurate and prompt intelligence regarding suspected terrorists to support security forces.

What happens next

The suspect remains in custody awaiting further investigation and prosecution. Operation Fansan Yamma will continue its clearance operations and maintain dominance over the affected regions, as announced by the task force’s Acting Media Information Officer, Captain Tamuno Sinivie.