More than 400 heavily armed bandits stormed Ribah town in Danko Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State early Wednesday in a coordinated assault, but were swiftly neutralized by Nigerian troops and Air Force firepower in one of the fiercest battles the region has witnessed this year.
Troops from the 223 Light Battalion, stationed in Zuru, engaged the attackers in a sustained gunfight that lasted several hours. The Nigerian Air Force launched a decisive airstrike on fleeing targets, killing dozens and scattering the remaining assailants into the forests surrounding the town.
Abandoned bodies of slain bandits and a cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles and improvised explosive devices, were recovered at the scene. Some retreating fighters reportedly dragged the corpses of their comrades into the bush to avoid identification.
Residents of Ribah, still recovering from previous assaults, described the attack as a “full-blown warzone,” noting the unusual scale of the operation. Locals credited the swift deployment of military reinforcements and air support for preventing what could have been a massacre.
Alhaji AbdulRahman Zagga, Director of Security at the Kebbi State Cabinet Office, confirmed the incident and commended the swift response by security agencies. He revealed intelligence reports indicate the attackers were remnants of a notorious group displaced from parts of Niger State in earlier military raids.
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris is expected to visit the affected community this weekend, amid growing calls for a permanent forward operating base in Danko Wasagu. Security analysts say Wednesday’s attack underscores the need for a multi-state anti-banditry coalition covering Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara axis.
The Nigerian Army is yet to release an official casualty figure, but community leaders claim over 70 bandits may have died in the operation. Residents have begun returning to their homes under tight security patrols as calm gradually returns.
