The General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Bemgha Koughna, has escaped a deadly ambush by suspected terrorists in Kebbi State, with troops killing five of the attackers during a fierce gun battle.
The incident, which occurred near Mayama Hill, targeted the convoy of the senior military officer as he travelled to assess frontline troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA in the North-West.
In a statement on Monday, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division and Sector 2, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, said the assailants, identified as members of the Lakurawa terrorist group, opened heavy fire on the convoy while it was navigating a forested stretch of the area.
According to the statement, the troops responded with what it described as “overwhelming force,” successfully neutralising five terrorists and repelling the attack without any reported casualty on the part of the convoy.
The Army said the swift counter-offensive disrupted the attackers’ plans and underscored the resolve of the military to confront insurgent threats in the region.
Following the exchange of fire, soldiers reportedly conducted a clearance operation within the vicinity, leading to the recovery of arms and other items 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, two mobile phones, five motorcycles, and a camel bag containing ₦840,000.
The statement added that troops have sustained heightened surveillance in the area to forestall further attacks, reiterating the commitment of the 8 Division to safeguard communities and dismantle terrorist networks operating in the North-West.
The North-West has in recent years witnessed persistent attacks by armed groups, with military authorities intensifying operations to curb the activities of bandits and terrorist factions across affected states.
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