The Kebbi State Police Command, in collaboration with the military, has neutralised suspected terrorist elements and recovered firearms, ammunition, motorcycles and other items during a joint clearance operation at Gumki Forest in Arewa Local Government Area of the state.

The operation was conducted at about 6:05 a.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026, in the Kangiwa area, according to the Kebbi State Police Command.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said Gumki Forest is a route frequently used by bandits and members of the Lakurawa group operating in the area.

He said the joint security team encountered the suspected terrorists during the operation and engaged them, resulting in the neutralisation of some of the elements.

According to the police, the operation led to the recovery of one PKT rifle loaded with 174 rounds of live ammunition and an AK-47 rifle containing 14 rounds of ammunition.

Security personnel also recovered four motorcycles, two mobile phones, military camouflage uniforms, a pair of boots and charms from the area.

The police did not disclose the number of suspected terrorists killed in the operation.

The development comes amid sustained security operations in parts of Kebbi State and other areas of the North-West aimed at disrupting terrorist and bandit networks and preventing them from using forests and border communities as operational bases.

The police said the area remained relatively calm following the operation, while joint security forces continued clearance operations in the forest and surrounding areas.

Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, CP Umar M. Hadejia, commended the personnel involved in the operation for their commitment and urged residents to continue providing security agencies with credible and timely information.

Hadejia said the command would sustain coordinated and intelligence-led operations with other security agencies to tackle terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality across the state.

A separate military account also reported ongoing offensive operations against suspected Lakurawa elements around the wider Gumki area, with troops recovering firearms, ammunition, motorcycles and other items after an encounter with the group.

The security forces said the operations are aimed at preventing the regrouping of criminal elements and improving security for communities and routes around the Nigeria-Niger border.