Katsina security forces kill over 40 bandits, stop attack

Joint security teams made up of local hunters and the Katsina State Community Watch Corps have stopped a major bandit attack on Guga Village in Bakori Local Government Area. They killed more than 40 armed bandits and took out several of their top commanders.

The Katsina State Government shared this news in a statement on Monday. The statement came from the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu.

The attack happened around 5:40 p.m. on Sunday. More than 200 heavily armed bandits, led by the famous kingpin, Idi Abasu Aiki, and backed by members of the Ado Aleru group from Zamfara State, invaded Guga Village. This was seen as a revenge attack.

According to the commissioner, intelligence reports before the attack showed that the bandits wanted to dislodge local hunters and the Community Watch Corps that protect the area. They planned to launch coordinated attacks on Bakori town and nearby villages.

But thanks to the government’s ongoing intelligence work and surveillance, security operatives were able to respond quickly and effectively. This led to a fierce gun battle that forced the attackers to flee with heavy losses.

"More than 40 bandits were neutralised during the operation. Follow-up intelligence showed that about eight senior commanders of the criminal group were eliminated," Mu’azu said.

He added that the bandit leader, Idi Abasu Aiki, likely suffered serious gunshot wounds during the clash.

Mu’azu explained that this operation followed a previous success on July 7, 2026, at Dawan Laila Village in Bakori Local Government Area. In that encounter, the same criminal group faced heavy losses at the hands of the hunters and the Community Watch Corps.

"The latest attack was a desperate move by the bandits to regain lost ground and undermine the community security efforts set up by the Katsina State Government," he said.

The commissioner also mentioned that security forces have started clearing operations to recover abandoned weapons and other items left by the fleeing bandits. Surveillance has increased to prevent further attacks.

Despite the victory, the government felt sad about the loss of five hunters who were shot dead while they were away from the frontlines, attending to personal errands during the operation.

"These brave patriots made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our communities. On behalf of the government and the people of Katsina State, I send my condolences to the families of the fallen hunters," Mu’azu said.

He assured residents that calm has returned to the affected areas and promised that the state will continue to work with security teams to protect lives and property across Katsina State.