Troops Foil Terrorist Ambush Targeting GOC in Kebbi

By Zainab Uzomah| Abuja

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have repelled an ambush targeting the convoy of the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Major General Bemgha Koughna, during an operational visit in Kebbi State, the Nigerian Army has said.

In a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, the attack occurred near Mayama Hill as the GOC was travelling to visit frontline personnel. The troops came under sudden and heavy gunfire from suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group.

According to the Army, soldiers responded immediately with “precise and overwhelming” firepower, killing five attackers and forcing the rest to flee. The swift reaction, it said, prevented what could have been a major assault in the area.

A further sweep of the scene led to the recovery of an OJC gun, a PKT gun, two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, PKT ammunition, several rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, a camel bag containing ₦840,000, two mobile phones and five motorcycles.

The Army said troops remain deployed around the area to prevent follow-up attacks and to maintain control of the route. The operation, it added, reflects the continued efforts of 8 Division to secure communities and weaken armed groups operating across the North-West.