Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Carmen Diego
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that Major General Bemgha Koughna, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander of Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, survived a terror ambush carried out by suspected members of the Lakurawa near Mayama Hill in Kebbi State.
Military authorities said the attack occurred during an operational visit by the senior officer to frontline troops deployed in the region. The convoy was reportedly subjected to heavy gunfire from suspected insurgents who attempted to intercept the movement. However, soldiers accompanying the GOC responded immediately with superior firepower, forcing the attackers to retreat.
Security sources confirmed that five of the suspected gunmen were killed during the exchange of fire. The remaining attackers fled the scene under sustained military pressure. During a subsequent search operation, troops recovered weapons, ammunition, motorcycles, mobile phones and ₦840,000 in cash, items believed to belong to the fleeing insurgents.
The Nigerian Army stated that Major General Koughna was unharmed and safely evacuated from the ambush zone after the incident. Authorities described the attack as a desperate attempt by insurgents to disrupt ongoing counterterrorism operations in the North-West theatre.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA has been conducting intensified offensive operations targeting armed criminal networks operating across border forests and remote settlements in the region. Military officials say the mission focuses on dismantling insurgent hideouts, intercepting logistics routes and protecting vulnerable rural communities.
The group suspected in the attack, Lakurawa, is believed by security analysts to operate across forested corridors spanning parts of Kebbi and neighbouring states. Authorities have linked the group to banditry, cross-border criminal movement and attacks on civilian settlements, though detailed intelligence assessments are still evolving.
Following the ambush, the army announced that troops remain on heightened operational alert across North-West deployment zones. Security formations were instructed to intensify reconnaissance patrols, strengthen perimeter defence around command movements and maintain continuous surveillance of suspected insurgent transit routes.
Military authorities also urged residents within affected communities to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing credible intelligence. Officials stressed that local information networks remain critical to counterterrorism success, particularly in remote environments where insurgent groups exploit terrain advantages.
The ambush underscores the continuing security pressure facing Nigerian forces operating in the North-West region, where banditry, kidnapping and insurgent violence have persisted despite ongoing military campaigns. Analysts note that attacks targeting high-ranking commanders are often intended to undermine operational morale and project insurgent capability.
Kebbi State has experienced periodic security incidents linked to armed groups operating around forest belts and rural border areas. The terrain, characterised by scattered settlements and limited surveillance infrastructure, has been described by security experts as operationally challenging for counterinsurgency patrols.
The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against criminal networks across the theatre of operations. Command authorities said troops would continue aggressive patrols, intelligence-driven strikes and community engagement programmes aimed at restoring stability.
As investigations continue into the ambush, the army has not disclosed whether any suspects were captured during the operation. Security officials indicated that follow-up clearance operations are underway around Mayama Hill and adjoining locations.
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