Nigerian Army Foils Armed Robbery on Abuja–Kaduna Highway, Arrests Suspect
- Troops of 1 Division Nigerian Army/Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA foiled an armed robbery on the Abuja–Kaduna highway on Tuesday
- One suspect, Kabiru Zayyanu, was arrested after sustaining a gunshot wound, while other gang members fled the scene
- No casualties or abductions were recorded, and troops have maintained security dominance in the area
Legit.ng's Muslim Muhammad Yusuf is a 2025 Wole Soyinka Award-winning journalist with over 8 years of experience in investigative reporting, human rights, politics, governance and accountability in Nigeria.
Troops of the 1 Division Nigerian Army/Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA have successfully foiled an armed robbery attack along the Abuja–Kaduna highway, preventing harm to commuters travelling on the busy route.
The incident occurred on Monday, January 6, 2026, at Nasarawan Doka, following a distress call alerting security forces to an ongoing armed robbery operation in the area.
Source: Getty Images
According to the Nigerian Army, troops on routine patrol swiftly mobilised to the scene upon receiving the alert and engaged the armed criminals, forcing them to retreat and effectively neutralising the threat.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Shuaib Umar, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division Nigerian Army/Sector 1 Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
Suspect arrested, others flee
During the encounter, one suspect, identified as Kabiru Zayyanu, was arrested after sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg.
He was immediately evacuated to Doka General Hospital, where he received first aid treatment.
Other members of the criminal gang reportedly fled the area after coming under heavy military pressure.
No casualties or abductions recorded
The Army confirmed that no casualties or abductions were recorded during the operation. Troops also conducted a hot pursuit of the fleeing suspects, although no further contact was made.
Security sources said the arrested suspect will be handed over to the appropriate security agency after the conclusion of preliminary investigations.
Source: Twitter
According to the statement, the general security situation around Nasarawan Doka and adjoining communities remains calm, with troops maintaining a strong presence and continuing to dominate the area to prevent any resurgence of criminal activities.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, the Nigerian Army urged members of the public to continue to report suspicious movements and activities to security agencies.
Abuja-Kaduna highway blocked by protesters
Legit.ng earlier reported that hundreds of travellers are stuck at the Suleja section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway in Niger State due to protesters blocking a section of the road.
Abubakar Ibrahim reported that his vehicle had been delayed for over two hours near Gauraka Junction, with the traffic jam extending several kilometres.
Ibrahim noted that only a few policemen are present from a distance but are unable to address the roadblock effectively due to the large number of protesting youths.
Nigerian security forces kill 8,000 terrorists
In an earlier story, Legit.ng reported that the federal government (FG) of Nigeria under Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said it will not relent in its war against terrorism.
The minister of information, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that security agents killed at least 8,000 terrorists and arrested 11,600 others in 2024.
Idris stated that about 8,000 kidnap victims were successfully rescued, with more than 10,000 weapons recovered.
Source: Legit.ng
