Community hunters in Katsina State have killed 14 bandits in a gun battle and foiled a mass kidnap plot in the state.
The state government announced this in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Danmusa.
Danmusa said intelligence reports received on Friday indicated that 26 heavily armed bandits riding on 13 motorcycles, under the leadership of a notorious kingpin identified as Isiya Kwashen Garwa, were advancing towards Dawan Laila Forest in preparation for coordinated attacks on neighbouring communities.
He stated that acting swiftly on the intelligence, security agencies immediately placed all operational assets in Bakori Local Government Area on high alert, successfully disrupting the planned mass abduction.
According to him, at about 1:31 p.m. the same day, the armed bandits attacked a private vehicle conveying four passengers from Kakumi Ward to Illela Market in Sokoto State, adding that the assailants set the vehicle ablaze, trapping the occupants.
The commissioner said that community hunters from Gidan Wawo were promptly mobilised and engaged the fleeing criminals in a fierce gun battle, stressing that the encounter ended in a decisive victory for the security 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 statement said.
The government disclosed that intelligence reports have indicated possible reprisal attacks by the bandits following the heavy losses they suffered, assuring residents that comprehensive countermeasures have already been activated in collaboration with security agencies to forestall any further threats.