Army foils bandit attack, kills suspected terrorist in Kaduna

Troops of 1 Division, Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA have successfully foiled a bandit attack in Maraban Rido general area of Kaduna State, neutralising one suspected violent extremist and recovering stolen livestock.

In a statement on Saturday by the Acting Staff Officer Grade 2, Community Relations, Army Public Relations 1 Division/Sector 1 OPFY, Captain Bello Nuradeen, said the operation followed a distress call received late on January 22, 2026, reporting armed bandits had rustled livestock in Anguwan Fulan village.

“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, troops deployed to the area to conduct a hasty ambush. Upon arrival, troops made contact with the fleeing bandits and engaged them with superior firepower, forcing the criminals to withdraw in disarray, sustaining gunshot wounds,” the statement read.

Troops then pursued the bandits into surrounding forested areas, including Kankomi forest, and made contact again at a suspected crossing point around Anguwan Sarki.

“During the engagement, troops overwhelmed the terrorists with high-volume fire, compelling them to abandon their loot and flee in disarray. This action led to the recovery of some rustled livestock,” the statement added.

Further operations in the early hours of January 23 resulted in the neutralisation of one terrorist. The troops also recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, and fifteen rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Abubakar Sadiq Wase, commended the troops for their bravery and professionalism.

He “charged them to sustain the tempo of operations in pursuing criminals around their hideouts,” reassured the public of the Army’s commitment to protecting lives and property, and called on citizens to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.

Culled from punch