Panic at Zamfara-Kebbi Border as Troops Engage 240 Bandits

Security forces have launched a coordinated operation to repel an estimated 240 armed bandits who reportedly crossed from Zamfara State into parts of Kebbi State, causing panic and forcing residents in affected communities to evacuate their homes.

The operation involves troops of the Nigerian Army’s COAS Intervention Battalion 3 under 8 Division, the Air Component of Joint Task Force Operation FANSAN YAMMA, and personnel of the Mobile Police Force.
According to security sources, the bandits reportedly emerged from the Sangeko Gap in Zamfara State and moved towards Makuku town in Kebbi State on motorcycles.
The armed group is said to be operating in three separate formations, raising concerns among security agencies about the scale of the movement and its potential impact on surrounding communities.
The development has prompted some residents to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer locations as ground troops and police personnel work to contain the attackers and prevent them from advancing further.
The Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA is providing aerial support to the ground forces as security agencies intensify efforts to disrupt the bandits’ movement and stop them from establishing a foothold in the area.
The reported movement of a large armed group along the Zamfara-Kebbi axis has heightened tension in border communities, which have continued to face security threats from criminal groups operating across state boundaries.
Residents in the affected areas have been advised to remain vigilant and comply with directives issued by security authorities while the operation continues.
The latest confrontation comes amid sustained military operations across the North-West aimed at dismantling bandit networks, rescuing kidnapped victims, and restoring security in vulnerable communities.
As of the time of filing this report, security authorities had not announced any official casualty figure or confirmed the final outcome of the ongoing engagement.