Two security personnel killed as troops foil attempted infiltration, military says
By HeapNews
Nigerian troops deployed under Operation FANSAN YAMMA repelled an overnight attack on a military base in northwestern Zamfara State, killing an unspecified number of suspected terrorists and rescuing nine abducted civilians, the army said on Sunday.
The Nigerian Army said the attackers attempted to infiltrate the Forward Operating Base at Kasuwan Daji in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area at about 1:40 a.m. local time but were detected and engaged by troops, forcing them to retreat.
According to a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 8 Division and Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, reinforcements pursued the fleeing attackers after they allegedly abducted residents from the surrounding community during the assault.
The military said the pursuit led to the rescue of nine abducted civilians, who were recovered safely.
The army said one army officer and one police officer were killed during the fighting, while two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds and were evacuated by air for treatment. Both injured soldiers are in stable condition, it said.
Troops have secured the area and are conducting follow-up operations to determine the extent of the attackers’ casualties and prevent further threats to nearby communities, the statement added.
The military also dismissed online reports claiming six security personnel were killed in the incident, saying only one army officer and one police officer died during the operation.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA, launched to combat armed groups operating across Nigeria’s northwest, said it would continue offensive operations aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and protecting vulnerable communities.