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A joint team of the Kebbi State Police Command and the military has stormed a terrorist hideout in Gumki Forest, Kangiwa, killing suspected terrorist elements during an early-morning clearance operation.
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The operation yielded the recovery of a PKT rifle loaded with 174 rounds of live ammunition and an AK-47 rifle with 14 rounds, bringing the total number of recovered live rounds to 188.
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Security operatives also recovered four motorcycles, military camouflage uniforms, boots, two mobile phones and charms from the forest, which authorities identified as a route frequently used by bandits and Lakurawa elements.
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The police said the area remained relatively calm after the operation as joint forces continued clearance operations, while the Commissioner of Police urged residents to provide credible intelligence to help security agencies dismantle criminal networks.
September 15, (THEWILL) – The Kebbi State Police Command, in collaboration with the military, has killed suspected terrorist elements and recovered assault rifles, 188 rounds of live ammunition, motorcycles and other operational items during a clearance operation in Gumki Forest, Kangiwa.
The operation was conducted at about 6:05am on Monday, September 14, 2026, as part of intensified efforts by security agencies to dismantle criminal and terrorist networks using the forest and surrounding routes as hideouts and corridors of movement.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Kebbi State, SP Bashir Usman, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the joint security team engaged the terrorist elements operating in the area and successfully neutralised some of them.
According to him, the operation took place in Gumki Forest, which has been identified as a known route used by bandits and elements of the Lakurawa group.
Usman said the security forces recovered one PKT rifle with 174 rounds of live ammunition and one AK-47 rifle with 14 rounds of live ammunition from the terrorists.
Other items recovered during the operation included a pair of military camouflage uniforms, a pair of boots, two mobile phones, charms and four motorcycles.
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The police spokesman said the operation was part of ongoing coordinated security efforts to clear terrorist and criminal elements from vulnerable areas of Kebbi State.
He said the area remained relatively calm following the operation, adding that joint security forces were still conducting further clearance operations to ensure that remaining criminal elements were flushed out of the forest.
The Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Umar M. Hadejia, commended the personnel involved in the operation for what he described as their gallantry and dedication to duty.
Hadejia reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining coordinated and intelligence-led operations with other security agencies to confront banditry, terrorism and other forms of criminality across the state.
He said security personnel would continue to work with relevant agencies to identify and dismantle criminal networks while restoring confidence and safety in affected communities.
The Commissioner also called on residents to support the security agencies by providing timely and credible information on suspicious movements, individuals, and activities within their communities.
He stressed the importance of public cooperation in strengthening intelligence gathering and enabling security personnel to respond swiftly to emerging threats.
The command assured residents that joint operations would continue in the affected areas until criminal elements were effectively cleared from their hideouts and routes of operation.
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