Over 40 Suspected Bandits Killed as Security Forces Repel Attack on Katsina Community

• Eight suspected commanders among those killed
• Five hunters die defending community
• Troops recover 126 rustled livestock, rescue kidnapped woman

No fewer than 40 suspected bandits, including eight senior commanders, were killed after a combined team of local hunters, the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) and troops of the Nigerian Army’s 17 Brigade repelled a large-scale attack on Guga Village in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Security sources said more than 200 heavily armed gunmen invaded the community at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday in what was described as a coordinated reprisal attack.

The attackers were reportedly led by notorious bandit leader Idi Abasu Aiki and reinforced by fighters linked to the Ado Aleru criminal network operating from neighbouring Zamfara State.

According to security intelligence cited by counter-insurgency sources, the gunmen planned to overrun local hunters and KSCWC personnel guarding the area before extending the assault to Bakori town and nearby communities.

However, acting on prior intelligence, security operatives mounted a coordinated response that resulted in a fierce gun battle, forcing the attackers to retreat after suffering heavy casualties.

Security sources said follow-up assessments confirmed that more than 40 suspected bandits were killed during the confrontation, including eight senior commanders.

Among those reportedly killed was Iliya Mai Rasha, a commander allegedly linked to several deadly attacks in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, who was said to have joined the operation at the invitation of Aiki.

The sources further claimed that Aiki sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire, although his condition could not be independently verified.

The latest confrontation followed an earlier clash on July 7 at Dawan Laila Village, where the same criminal network reportedly suffered significant losses in a battle with local security volunteers.

Despite the successful operation, five members of the hunters’ team were killed after they were reportedly caught outside the main battle area while attending to personal errands.

The Katsina State Government confirmed the deaths, describing the slain hunters as courageous patriots who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their communities, and extended condolences to their families.

Security agencies have since launched clearance operations in the area to recover weapons and other items abandoned by fleeing bandits, while surveillance has been intensified to prevent further attacks.

Authorities said normalcy had been restored to Guga Village and surrounding communities, reaffirming their commitment to sustained joint security operations across the state.

In a related development, troops of the 17 Brigade Quick Reaction Force, working with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), recovered 126 rustled livestock comprising 83 cattle and 43 sheep after ambushing suspected bandits moving the animals through Yankwani Village in Bakori Local Government Area at about 6 a.m. on Saturday.

The suspects reportedly fled into nearby bushes on sighting the troops, abandoning the animals.

The recovered livestock were handed over to the Chairman of the Bakori Peace Keeping Committee, Alhaji Tijjani Mohammed, for identification and return to their rightful owners.

Military sources described the operation as successful, with no casualties recorded among security personnel.

Also on Sunday night, troops of the 17 Brigade, in collaboration with the KSCWC, rescued a kidnapped woman in Karkata Village, Charanchi Local Government Area, following a distress call received at the Forward Operating Base in Radda.

Security operatives intercepted the abductors before they reached the village, forcing them to abandon the victim and flee into the bush.

The rescued woman was reunited with her family, while no casualties were recorded among security personnel. Authorities said the number of casualties suffered by the fleeing abductors during the operation could not be immediately determined.