Bandits Kill Security Guard, Abduct Woman in Kebbi as Troops Rescue 11 Kidnap Victims

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Suspected bandits have killed a 47-year-old security guard and abducted a married woman during successive attacks on Ribah community in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the attacks, saying joint security operatives comprising police officers, military personnel and local vigilantes repelled the assailants.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said the attackers first attempted to block Rambo Junction along the Ribah–Dirin Daji Road at about 7:25pm on Friday but were confronted by security operatives.

According to him, the gunmen later regrouped and returned to the community, firing sporadically from different directions.

During the exchange of gunfire, a security guard identified as Hassan Boder was fatally struck by a bullet. He was reportedly attached to a newly constructed filling station along the Ribah–Kanya Road.

Usman said security operatives responded promptly after receiving a distress call and successfully forced the attackers to retreat.

He added that security operations had been intensified in the area, with patrols ongoing and efforts being made to track down and arrest those responsible.

However, reports from the community indicated that the attackers, who reportedly arrived on more than 10 motorcycles, abducted a married woman during the incident.

Troops Rescue 11 Kidnap Victims

In a separate development, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued 11 kidnapped persons in two operations conducted in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The rescues took place on October 30 and 31, 2026, following military operations against suspected bandits and terrorists in the area.

The spokesperson for the 8 Division, Sokoto, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Osoba said the first operation followed a distress call reporting that armed bandits had blocked a road leading to Ribah town and attempted to invade the community.

He explained that troops deployed to the area discovered that some residents had been abducted, while motorcycles were abandoned at the scene.

The soldiers pursued the attackers and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing them to flee and abandon seven kidnapped victims.

The rescued persons were identified as Sa’adu Bala, Dantani Yahyi, Nura Musa, Nasiru Muhammad, Abdulakeem Abubakar, Abdulahi Maikudi and Zaki Gom.

The military said they had been reunited with their families.

In another operation around Wasagu, troops conducting routine patrols came under attack by suspected terrorists but repelled the assailants.

According to Osoba, the attackers fled, abandoning four people they had earlier kidnapped from their farms in Wasagu village.

The rescued victims were identified as Lawali Ali, Samaila Shuaibu, Kasimu Shuaibu and Aliyu Bala. They were subsequently handed over to the community head.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations against bandits and other criminal groups, assuring residents that efforts would continue to protect lives and property across the area.

The Daily Reality