The General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, Major General Bemgha Koughna, has escaped an ambush by suspected Lakurawa terrorists near Mayama Hill in Kebbi State.
The attack occurred as the GOC’s convoy was en route to visit frontline troops stationed in the state. In a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 8 Division/Sector 2, the convoy was reportedly ambushed with heavy gunfire while passing through a forested and high-risk area.
According to Olaniyi, Major General Koughna and his troops mounted a swift and coordinated counterattack, overpowering the assailants, killing five of them, and successfully repelling the ambush.
He noted that the rapid response not only ensured the safety of the convoy but also thwarted the terrorists’ plans and delivered a strong message to armed groups operating in the region.
Following the encounter, troops conducted a thorough sweep of the area, recovering a cache of arms and other materials. Items seized included one OJC gun, one PKT 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, and five motorcycles.
Olaniyi added that troops would sustain heightened surveillance and operational pressure in the area to forestall further attacks. He reaffirmed the commitment of 8 Division to safeguarding civilians and dismantling terrorist networks across the North West.
