Troops of 1 Division/Sector 1, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have foiled a banditry attack and neutralised one suspected terrorist during a snap ambush operation in Maraban Rido general area of Kaduna State.
The operation followed a distress call received late on January 22, 2026, reporting the presence of armed bandits who had rustled livestock in Anguwan Fulan village, within the Rido axis. Acting on the intelligence, troops swiftly deployed to the area and laid a hasty ambush.
According to the Army, the troops made contact with the fleeing bandits on arrival and engaged them with superior firepower, forcing the criminals to retreat in disarray with gunshot wounds. The soldiers subsequently carried out aggressive exploitation of nearby forested areas, including the Kankomi Forest, where another encounter occurred at a suspected crossing point near Anguwan Sarki.
During the engagement, the troops again overwhelmed the terrorists with a high volume of fire, compelling them to abandon their loot and flee. Some of the rustled livestock were recovered in the process.
Further exploitation of the ambush site in the early hours of January 23, 2026, led to the neutralisation of one terrorist. Troops also recovered two AK-47 rifles, four magazines and fifteen rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
Commending the troops, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Abubakar Sadiq Mohammed Wase, praised their courage and professionalism.
Major General Wase charged the soldiers “to sustain the tempo of operations in pursuing the criminals around their hideouts,” while reassuring the public of the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
He further urged citizens to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing operations.
The information was contained in a statement signed by Captain Bello Nuradeen, Acting Staff Officer Grade 2, Community Relations, Army Public Relations, 1 Division Nigerian Army/Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
