Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The operation began at 6:05 a.m., the kind of hour when the forest is still dark and the only sounds are the wind and the distant calls of birds. But Gumki Forest in Kangiwa, Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State, is not a place of peace. It is a known route used by bandits and Lakurawa elements, a corridor of terror that has been used to launch attacks on communities, rustle livestock, and evade security forces. On Monday, September 14, 2026, that corridor became a killing field for the terrorists themselves.
The Kebbi State Police Command, in collaboration with the military, conducted a joint clearance operation that led to the neutralisation of suspected terrorist elements and the recovery of a significant cache of weapons and equipment. According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, the joint team engaged the terrorists during the operation and successfully neutralised some of them. Items recovered included one PKT rifle with 174 rounds of live ammunition, one AK-47 rifle with 14 rounds of ammunition, two mobile phones, four motorcycles, a pair of military camouflage uniforms, a pair of boots, and charms. The recovery of a PKT rifle, a heavy machine gun capable of inflicting devastating damage, is particularly significant. It is not the kind of weapon carried by petty criminals. It is a weapon of war, and its presence in the hands of terrorists in Kebbi State speaks to the scale of the threat that security forces are confronting. The recovery of military camouflage uniforms is equally troubling, suggesting that the terrorists may have been attempting to disguise themselves as soldiers to carry out attacks or infiltrate communities.
The operation was not an isolated incident. It was part of a broader offensive by troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, who have been conducting clearance operations in the Arewa Dandi Local Government Area. According to Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations for Sector 2, the troops advanced through identified terrorist enclaves around the Gumki general area and made contact with the terrorists near the Nigeria-Niger border. A fierce firefight ensued, and the troops, using superior firepower, overwhelmed the terrorists. Several were killed, while others abandoned their positions and fled into the forest. A follow-up operation and thorough search of the area led to the recovery of additional weapons, including a PKT machine gun, AK-47 rifles, a large quantity of 7.62 x 54mm belted ammunition, and 7.62mm Special ammunition. The troops also recovered four motorcycles, two smartphones, N87,000 in cash, and assorted combat and miscellaneous items.
The context of this operation is important. Kebbi State has been a flashpoint for Lakurawa terrorist activities in recent years. The group, which is believed to have links to jihadist networks in the Sahel, has carried out attacks on villages, killed security personnel, and rustled livestock. In February 2026, suspected Lakurawa terrorists killed 33 villagers in the Bui District of Arewa Local Government Area. In January 2025, the group killed three Airtel workers who were installing a surveillance mast in Gumki village. The group has also clashed with security forces on multiple occasions, and its activities have displaced thousands of residents.
The Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Umar Hadejia, commended the operatives for their gallantry and dedication to duty. He said the command would sustain coordinated and intelligence-led operations with other security agencies to tackle banditry, terrorism, and other forms of criminality across the state. He also urged residents to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could assist ongoing operations. The police assured residents that joint security operations would continue in the area until criminal elements were completely cleared from the forest and its adjoining routes.
The area remains relatively calm, according to the police, but the operation is ongoing. Security forces are continuing clearance operations aimed at eliminating criminal elements from the forest and surrounding communities. The message from the authorities is clear: the days of impunity for terrorists in Kebbi State are numbered. The joint operation at Gumki Forest is not just a tactical victory; it is a statement of intent. It signals that the police and the military are prepared to work together, share intelligence, and take the fight to the terrorists wherever they may be hiding.
For the residents of Arewa and the wider Kebbi State, the operation offers a glimmer of hope that the security situation may finally be turning. But the fight is far from over, and the terrorists will not give up without a fight. The people of Kebbi State have endured years of violence, displacement, and fear. They have lost loved ones, watched their farms and livestock be stolen, and lived under the constant threat of attack. The success of this operation is a small but meaningful step towards restoring their confidence and security. As the clearance operations continue, the people of Kebbi State will be watching and hoping that the peace they have long been denied is finally within reach.
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