Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), Joint Task Force North West, have been commended for their bravery and resilience after repelling a deadly terrorist ambush along the Bingi–Kekun Waje–Gusau Road in Zamfara State on January 19, 2026.
The Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Captain David Adewusi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, describing the troops’ response as gallant and professional despite the surprise nature of the attack.
Captain Adewusi, said the ambush followed a string of successful offensive operations carried out between January 17 and 19, 2026, by troops of Sector 2 OPFY, working alongside the OPFY Mobile Strike Team and the DIA Tactical Support Team.
He said the coordinated raids, ambushes, and fighting patrols were conducted across Birnin Magaji and Anka areas of Zamfara State.
During the operations, three suspects — Isiya Kwakwatawa, Ibrahim Dan Musulu, and Makau Lamba Goma — were arrested, while four terrorists were neutralised and others forced to flee into the forest.
Items recovered according to him included “1 PKT machine gun, 5 AK-47 rifles, 3 AK-47 magazines, rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, Baofeng radios, and 3 motorcycles.”
Meanwhile, Captain Adewusi said troops of OPFY Combat Team 1, while returning from the operations and responding to a distress call on a terrorist reprisal attack, came under fire at Gidan Wagni while en route to Kekun Waje.
“Despite the surprise of the ambush, the troops responded gallantly, engaging the terrorists and preventing further harm to nearby communities,” he said.
Regrettably, the encounter claimed the lives of five soldiers and one police officer, who, according to the statement, “paid the supreme sacrifice” in the line of duty.
He said upon receiving the distress report, the OPFY Mobile Strike Team, in conjunction with troops of 1 Brigade Quick Reaction Force from Forward Operating Bases in Kanoma and Kekun Waje, swiftly mobilised to the scene. The reinforcement, Captain Adewusi noted, was “personally led by the Commander 1 Brigade, underscoring the high level of coordination and commitment within the operation.”
The combined force launched a counter-ambush that forced the terrorists to withdraw. Credible intelligence, the statement revealed, indicated that notorious bandit kingpin JANWUYA and ALHAJI BELLO, the 2iC to KACHALLA SOJA, were seriously injured during the encounter, while some fleeing elements sustained gunshot wounds.
Troops, supported by community vigilantes, subsequently carried out pursuit operations, as further exploitation and offensive actions continue across the area.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA assured the public that “the situation is under control” and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property while sustaining pressure on terrorist elements and restoring lasting peace across the Joint Operations Area.
The Theatre Commander condoled with the Commander of Sector 2 over the loss and commended the troops for their “courage, sacrifice, and professionalism.” He also encouraged members of the public to remain calm and continue to support ongoing security efforts through timely and credible information.
