The Kebbi State Police Command, working with the military, has neutralised suspected terrorists during a joint clearance operation at Gumki Forest in Kangiwa, Arewa Local Government Area of the state.
The operation, carried out at about 6:05am on Monday, September 14, 2026, also resulted in the recovery of firearms, ammunition, motorcycles and other items reportedly belonging to the criminal elements.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said in a statement that Gumki Forest is a known route used by bandits and Lakurawa elements operating in the area.
He said the joint security team engaged the terrorists during the clearance operation and successfully neutralised some of them.
Items recovered during the operation 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.
“During the operation, the joint team successfully engaged and neutralised terrorist elements operating within the area,” Usman said.
He added that the area remained relatively calm, while security forces continued clearance operations aimed at eliminating criminal elements from the forest and surrounding communities.
The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, CP Umar Hadejia, praised the operatives for their gallantry and commitment to duty.
Hadejia said the command would continue to conduct coordinated and intelligence-led operations with other security agencies to combat banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities across the state.
He also called on residents to support security agencies by providing “timely and credible information” that could aid ongoing operations.
The police assured residents that joint security operations would be sustained in the area until criminal elements were completely cleared from the forest and surrounding routes.