Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 223 Light Battalion have repelled a large-scale assault by over 400 armed bandits on Ribah town in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing dozens and forcing the remainder into retreat.
The soldiers, based in Zuru, engaged the attackers in an intense firefight that lasted several hours. The aftermath of the battle saw the area strewn with weapons and the bodies of the assailants.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir Idris, confirmed that while some of the gunmen managed to evacuate their casualties, many were left behind along with arms and ammunition recovered by the military.
The Director of Security at the Kebbi State Cabinet Office, Alhaji AbdulRahman Zagga, confirmed the success of the operation during a briefing in Birnin Kebbi. He praised the swift action of the Nigerian Army and acknowledged the vital support of the Nigerian Air Force, which conducted targeted airstrikes against the retreating insurgents.
“Although the initial gunfire caused widespread panic among residents, the troops’ resolve and superior firepower quickly overwhelmed the attackers. Normalcy has now been fully restored in the community,” Zagga said.
He further revealed that intelligence reports indicate the group was responsible for a recent violent incursion in neighbouring Niger State before crossing into Kebbi for the failed operation.
“This result demonstrates the strength of the proactive security framework being implemented under Governor Idris’s leadership,” Zagga concluded.