Community hunters in Katsina State have killed 14 bandits in a gun battle and foiled a mass kidnap plot within the state.
The state authorities introduced this in an announcement signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Danmusa.
Danmusa mentioned intelligence experiences acquired on Friday indicated that 26 closely armed bandits using on 13 bikes, underneath the management of a infamous kingpin recognized as Isiya Kwashen Garwa, have been advancing in direction of Dawan Laila Forest in preparation for coordinated assaults on neighbouring communities.
He said that performing swiftly on the intelligence, safety businesses instantly positioned all operational property in Bakori Local Government Area on excessive alert, efficiently disrupting the deliberate mass abduction.
(*14*) to him, at about 1:31 p.m. the identical day, the armed bandits attacked a personal car conveying 4 passengers from Kakumi Ward to Illela Market in Sokoto State, including that the assailants set the car ablaze, trapping the occupants.
The commissioner mentioned that neighborhood hunters from Gidan Wawo have been promptly mobilised and engaged the fleeing criminals in a fierce gun battle, stressing that the encounter resulted in a decisive victory for the safety volunteers, with fourteen bandits neutralised and three victims rescued alive.
“Even though 14 of the bandits were killed, the operation came at a painful cost. A brave community hunter, Mohammed Ibrahim Jidda was killed while defending the community, while another hunter, Usman Sunday, 25, sustained minor gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment.
“One of the travellers, Jamilu Lawal, tragically lost his life after being burnt in the vehicle during the attack,” the assertion mentioned.
The authorities disclosed that intelligence experiences have indicated doable reprisal assaults by the bandits following the heavy losses they suffered, assuring residents that complete countermeasures have already been activated in collaboration with safety businesses to forestall any additional threats.
