Monday, February 23, 2026 l Dalena News Desk
KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA — A contingent of the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division successfully foiled a deadly ambush by suspected members of the Lakurawa Terrorist Group (LTG) on the convoy of Major-General Bemgha Koughna, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North-West (Operation FANSAN YAMMA), authorities confirmed Monday. The senior officer escaped the attack uninjured as troops neutralised several assailants during the encounter near Mayama Hill in Kebbi State.
According to an official statement signed by Lieutenant-Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, the ambush occurred as the GOC’s convoy was travelling through dense, volatile forest terrain to visit frontline troops deployed in the region. The suspected Lakurawa terrorists reportedly opened heavy and coordinated gunfire on the convoy in an apparent attempt to assassinate the senior military commander.
Despite the surprise attack, Major-General Koughna and his escort demonstrated decisive leadership and rapid tactical response, countering the assault with overwhelming force. Five suspected terrorists were neutralised in the firefight, and the attackers’ plans were thwarted before they could inflict casualties on the convoy.
Following the engagement, troops conducted a detailed sweep of the area, recovering a substantial cache of weapons and materials believed to have belonged to the attackers. Recovered items included one OJC gun, one PKT gun, two AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, PKT ammunition, rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition, two mobile phones, five motorcycles and ₦840,000 in cash.
Military officials said units remain deployed and vigilant in the vicinity, maintaining dominance to prevent further attacks or reprisals by the group. The successful operation underscores the Nigerian Army’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding troops, civilians, and communities across Nigeria’s North-West region against terrorist threats.
The Lakurawa group, active in parts of north-western Nigeria including Kebbi and Sokoto states, has been implicated in multiple violent attacks and clashes with security forces in recent years, contributing to broader insecurity in the region.