Suspected terrorists killed a Nigerian Army officer and six soldiers during a deadly ambush on a patrol operation in the Rigachikun area of Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The attack occurred on Monday evening, June 8, 2026, amid intensified military operations that have recently degraded the activities of armed groups along the Kaduna-Zaria corridor and surrounding communities.
Details of the Ambush
According to reports, the troops were on a routine operational patrol following a series of successful clearance operations that neutralized several terrorist kingpins and foot soldiers in the area. While returning from the mission, heavily armed assailants ambushed them, triggering a fierce gun battle. Although the troops fought back and inflicted casualties on the attackers, the ambush claimed the lives of one officer and six soldiers.
Setback After Recent Successes
The incident comes as a setback following recent successes by troops of the 1 Division Nigerian Army. In recent weeks, security forces have intensified aggressive patrols, intelligence-led raids, anti-kidnapping operations, and clearance missions across communities along the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway and adjoining forests. A security operative said these operations led to the elimination of notorious bandit leaders, destruction of criminal hideouts, rescue of kidnapped victims, arrest of gunrunners, and a noticeable reduction in attacks on commuters and residents.
Official Response
As of the time of filing this report, military authorities had not issued an official statement. However, sources said reinforcement operations have been deployed to the area, while efforts are ongoing to track down the attackers and prevent further security breaches.
