Terrorists Ambush Troops on Rescue Mission for Kebbi Schoolgirls, Injure Several Soldiers

|By Adejumo Adekunle

Several Nigerian soldiers suffered severe injuries on Sunday after terrorists ambushed a team of troops mobilized to rescue the kidnapped schoolgirls of Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.

The assault erupted less than 24 hours after the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, commanded troops of Operation Fasin Yamma to “go all out” and crush the bandits responsible for abducting the students.

“You must continue day and night fighting. We must find these children,” Shaibu had charged frontline forces, urging commanders to deploy real-time intelligence for swift, decisive operations. “Once you receive information on something like this, act professionally and decisively. This is not just about our image; it is about doing our job properly.”

Following the directive, troops launched a round-the-clock rescue mission but ran into a deadly ambush staged by terrorists. Their operational vehicle was riddled with bullets as the attackers unleashed heavy fire.

Disturbing video footage obtained from the scene shows several injured soldiers lying helplessly, with one of them heard saying in Hausa: “Musa has a bullet lodged in his leg. His condition is very bad.”

Military authorities are yet to release an official statement on the condition of the wounded personnel or the next steps in the rescue effort, but operations are expected to continue until all abducted students are safely reunited with their families.