The Kebbi State Police Command, in collaboration with the military, has neutralised suspected terrorist elements during a joint clearance operation at Gumki Forest in Kangiwa, Arewa Local Government Area of the state.
The operation, which began at about 6:05am on Monday, September 14, 2026, also resulted in the recovery of firearms, ammunition, motorcycles and other items allegedly belonging to the criminal elements.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said Gumki Forest was a known route used by bandits and Lakurawa elements operating in the area.
He said the joint team engaged the terrorists during the clearance operation and neutralised some of them.
Usman said: “During the operation, the joint team successfully engaged and neutralised terrorist elements operating within the area.”
Items recovered included one PKT rifle with 174 rounds of live ammunition, one AK-47 rifle with 14 rounds of ammunition, two mobile phones, four motorcycles, a pair of military camouflage uniforms, a pair of boots and charms.
Usman said the area remained relatively calm as security forces continued clearance operations aimed at eliminating criminal elements from the forest and surrounding communities.
The Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Umar Hadejia, commended the operatives for their gallantry and dedication to duty.
Hadejia said the command would sustain coordinated and intelligence-led operations with other security agencies to tackle banditry, terrorism and other forms of criminality across the state.
He also urged residents to support security agencies by providing “timely and credible information” to assist ongoing operations.
The police assured residents that joint security operations would continue in the area until criminal elements were completely cleared from the forest and its adjoining routes.
