Army GOC Survives Ambush in Kebbi, Five Terrorists Neutralised

The Nigerian Army has confirmed that the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Bemgha Koughna, narrowly escaped death following a deadly ambush by suspected Lakurawa terrorists near Mayama Hill in Kebbi State.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Sokoto, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the Army disclosed that the attack occurred while the GOC’s convoy was en route to visit frontline troops deployed in parts of the state.

According to the statement, the convoy came under heavy gunfire as it moved through a forested and volatile corridor near Mayama Hill, an area believed to be a crossing point for armed groups operating along the fringes of Kebbi and neighboring states.

Military sources said the attackers had laid in ambush before launching a coordinated assault on the advancing convoy.

Despite the intensity of the attack, Major General Koughna reportedly took command of the situation, directing a swift counter-offensive under hostile conditions. Troops responded with what the Army described as “superior firepower,” forcing the assailants into disarray.

Five Terrorists Killed, Weapons Recovered
The Army confirmed that five suspected members of the Lakurawa group were neutralised during the exchange of fire, while several others fled with gunshot wounds into surrounding bushes.

Following the firefight, troops conducted a clearance operation across the area, leading to the recovery of a cache of weapons and other materials believed to belong to the fleeing insurgents.

Items recovered include:
One OJC gun
One PKT machine gun
Two AK-47 rifles
Four AK-47 magazines
A bandolier of PKT ammunition
Several rounds of 12.7mm ammunition
A camel bag containing ₦840,000
Two mobile phones
Five motorcycles

The Army said the seizure of arms, ammunition, cash, and logistics would significantly aid ongoing intelligence efforts and further degrade the operational capacity of the suspected Lakurawa group in Kebbi and adjoining areas.

Heightened Security Across North-West
The incident underscores the continued volatility across flashpoints in Nigeria’s North-West, where security forces have intensified operations against armed bandits and extremist factions under Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

Military authorities assured residents that troops remain on high alert to forestall any reprisal attacks or regrouping attempts by fleeing insurgents.
“The public is urged to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information as clearance and stabilisation operations continue,” the statement added.

Security analysts say the attempted assassination of a senior field commander signals a bold escalation by armed groups but also highlights the military’s rapid-response capability in high-risk zones.

Major General Koughna and members of his convoy were reported safe, with no official confirmation of casualties among the troops at the time of filing this report.