Troops ambush, neutralize 14 bandits in Katsina

Troops of the Nigerian Army have ambushed and neutralized 14 suspected bandits at Gora community, in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The incident which occured late Tuesday night, also led to the recovery of seven operational motorcycles belonging to the suspected bandits.

It was learnt that the incident happened when bandits in their numbers, tried to carry out an operation within the community and its environs.

Sources from the area said the bandits, armed with dangerous weapons, had ferried to the area riding two-on-two, on motorcycles, and had initially tried to lay an ambush for the military operatives.

According to one of the sources, the military operatives, aware of the bandits’ whereabouts, carried out a counter-ambus, specifically between Gora and Gidan Barau communities, and the bandits got caught in it.

He said that after the first ambush, some of the daring bandits decided to return to incident scene with the view of recovering the bodies of their members, only to be surprised by the military in another ambush.

“At the end of the day, 14 of the bandits were neutralized, while seven motorcycles belonging to the bandits were recovered by the troops,” one of the sources said.

They said before now, bandits used to operate on almost daily basis in some of the rural communites, committing atrocities that included kidnapping and rustling of domestic animals.

They, however, said relative peace had returned to the council following deployment of additional military operatives, and the setting up of a military battalion in the area.

The sources, who commended the military for neutralizing the bandits, also lauded them for ensuring relative peace is restored to the area.

When contacted, the Mai Unguwa, or traditional ruler of Gora community, Alhaji Gora, as well as a traditional title holder in the council, Abdulaziz Sardauna, confirmed the incident.

However, both state government as well as the police command in the state, were yet to issue any statement regarding the incident as at time of report.