Troops of the Nigerian Army have foiled a deadly ambush on the convoy of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Bemgha Koughna, near Mayama Hill in Kebbi State.
The attack, allegedly carried out by suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group, occurred while the GOC was en route to visit frontline troops deployed in the state.
According to a statement by the Division’s spokesman in Kebbi, Lt Col Olaniyi Osoba, the convoy was moving through a volatile forested terrain when it came under sudden and heavy gunfire from armed terrorists positioned along the route.
In a swift counter-response, troops engaged the attackers with superior firepower. During the firefight, five terrorists were neutralised, while others fled into the surrounding bush.
The successful counter-ambush secured the convoy and disrupted what security officials described as a coordinated attempt to target senior military leadership and destabilise ongoing operations in the area.
Military authorities said the development sends a strong warning to insurgent elements operating in parts of the North West, reaffirming the resolve of troops to dominate the operational environment and protect both personnel and civilians.
Following the engagement, troops conducted a thorough sweep of the area, leading to the recovery of a cache of weapons, ammunition and other items believed to belong to the fleeing terrorists.
Items recovered include one OJC gun, one PKT machine gun, two AK-47 rifles and four AK-47 magazines. Also recovered were a bandolier of PKT ammunition, several rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, a camel bag containing ₦840,000, two mobile phones and five motorcycles.
Security analysts note that such recoveries often provide useful intelligence for tracking insurgent networks and disrupting their logistics and financing channels.
Troops remain deployed in the general area to prevent further attacks and to maintain operational dominance across key flashpoints in Kebbi State and adjoining areas.
The operation forms part of ongoing efforts under Operation FANSAN YAMMA to degrade terrorist capabilities and restore lasting peace to communities affected by banditry and insurgency in the North West.
Military authorities reiterated the commitment of 8 Division to sustaining offensive and defensive operations aimed at eliminating terrorist threats and ensuring the safety of residents in the region.
