AT least five soldiers and one police officer were killed on Monday after troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Joint Task Force for the North-West, were ambushed by terrorists along the Bingi–Kekun Waje–Gusau Road in Zamfara State.
News Point Nigeria reports that the deadly attack occurred as the troops were returning from a series of coordinated offensive operations carried out between January 17 and 19 in Birnin Magaji and Anka local government areas, where security forces had recorded significant successes against terrorist elements operating in the state.
Confirming the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday via the operation’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Captain David Adewusi, said the troops had earlier conducted raids, ambushes and fighting patrols that led to the arrest of suspects and the recovery of arms and logistics.
According to Adewusi, three suspected terrorists identified as Isiya Kwakwatawa, Ibrahim Dan Musulu and Makau Lamba Goma were arrested during the operations.
He added that four terrorists were neutralised, while several others escaped with injuries into surrounding forests.
Items recovered during the raids included one PKT machine gun, five AK-47 rifles, three AK-47 magazines, several rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, Baofeng radios and three motorcycles, significantly degrading the operational capacity of the criminal groups.
However, the return journey proved deadly.
Captain Adewusi explained that troops of OPFY Combat Team 1 were responding to a distress call following a reported terrorist reprisal attack when they were ambushed at Gidan Wagni while moving towards Kekun Waje.
“Despite the surprise nature of the attack, the troops responded gallantly, engaging the terrorists and preventing further harm to nearby communities,” he said.
He confirmed that five soldiers and one police officer paid the supreme sacrifice during the encounter.
Following the ambush, reinforcements from the Operation FANSAN YAMMA Mobile Strike Team and troops of the 1 Brigade Quick Reaction Force were swiftly deployed from Forward Operating Bases in Kanoma and Kekun Waje.
The reinforcement team, led by the Commander of 1 Brigade, launched a counter-ambush operation that forced the terrorists to retreat.
According to credible intelligence cited by the military, a notorious bandit leader known as Janwuya, alongside Alhaji Bello, identified as the second-in-command to Kachalla Soja, sustained serious gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire. Several other fleeing terrorists were also believed to have been injured.
Troops, supported by local vigilante groups, subsequently launched pursuit and exploitation operations across the area, with further offensive actions ongoing to flush out fleeing criminals.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA said the security situation in the area had been brought under control and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the Joint Operations Area.
“The Theatre Commander has condoled with the Commander Sector 2 on the loss and commended the troops for their courage, sacrifice and professionalism,” Adewusi said.
He urged residents of Zamfara State to remain calm and continue to support security agencies with timely and credible information, stressing that such cooperation remains critical to ending terrorism and banditry in the region.