Army officer, 6 soldiers killed in ambush

*Military confirms attack *Neutralises 24 terrorists, rescues 194 kidnap victims

A Nigerian Army officer and six soldiers were killed Monday evening after troops came under a deadly ambush by suspected terrorists during a patrol operation in the Rigachikun area of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The attack occurred amid intensified military operations that have, in recent weeks, significantly degraded the operational capabilities of armed groups operating within the Kaduna-Zaria corridor and surrounding communities.

Senior military sources, yesterday confirmed the attack, noting that follow up deployment to the axis to track and clear the perpetrators is ongoing

This is just as authorities of 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna have disclosed that troops neutralised 24 bandits/terrorists and rescued 194 kidnap victims in Kaduna and adjourning areas in the first quarter of this year. 

Sources said the attack and killing of the soldiers occured in a forest location in Chikun community after troops who had embarked on a successful clearance mission resulting in the elimination of several terrorists in the area along the Kaduna-Zaria road, were returning to base.

The soldiers were said to have put up a gallant fight-back against the heavily armed terrorists resulting in the neutralisation of several of the terrorists while many of them escaped into the bush with gunshot wounds

The area which is close to Kaduna metropolis has remained a major hotspot for armed banditry and kidnappings, prompting sustained military operations led by Nigerian Army troops. As a result, Chikun continues to be one of the key focal points for national security deployments in the North  West region.

The attack comes at a time when security agencies have intensified coordinated operations across Kaduna and neighbouring states to dismantle terrorist and bandit enclaves and restore lasting peace along major transportation routes.

On military operations against terrorists, bandits and economic sabotage in 1 Division area of responsibility, and Sector 1 Operation Fansan Yamma, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 1 Division, Major General Muhammed Wase represented by the Chief of Staff,  Brig-Gen Timothy Opurum, yesterday, highlighted troops successes in the first quarter of 2026 noting that 24 terrorists were neutralised and 194 kidnapped victims in Kaduna and adjourning areas during fighting operations.

Giving details, the GOC said the successes were achieved through fighting patrols, ambushes, raids, clearance operations and targeted offensives against identified criminal enclaves, adding that the primary objective was to deny bandits and terrorists freedom of movement, cut off their logistics routes, destroy their camps and prevent attacks against communities and strategic infrastructure.

He said: “A total of 194 kidnapped victims were rescued through various military operations conducted across the Division’s area of responsibility. The rescued victims were freed from captivity following coordinated intelligence-led missions carried out by troops operating in difficult terrains and remote locations.

“The successful rescue operations not only deprived criminal networks of financial gains but also restored hope to affected families and communities.

“Beyond the rescue operations, troops arrested 36 suspected bandits and criminal collaborators, many of whom are believed to have provided logistics, intelligence and other forms of support to criminal groups operating within the region.

“The offensive operations also led to the neutralisation of 24 terrorists and violent extremists during engagements with troops. The elimination of these combatants was achieved during various combat encounters, ambushes and clearance operations conducted by units deployed across the operational theatre.

“The neutralisation of these elements has significantly weakened the operational capabilities of criminal groups in several flashpoints within the Division’s area of responsibility.

“An equally important aspect of the Division’s achievements was the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons, ammunition and military-related equipment, as troops recovered more than 1,200 rounds of ammunition, alongside 1,212 assorted ammunition cartridges and 28 magazines from criminal elements.

“Every weapon or ammunition recovered from the battlefield translates into reduced firepower available to criminal groups and potentially fewer attacks on innocent civilians.

“The recoveries also illustrated the effectiveness of intelligence gathering and follow-up operations conducted after military engagements.

“Military authorities believe that disrupting access to weapons and ammunition remains one of the most effective ways of degrading the combat capabilities of armed groups operating in the North-West and North-Central regions.”