Vigilante-Group In Katsina Eliminates 25-Bandits, Retrieves Weapons And Motorbikes (Full Details)

Vigilante-Group In Katsina Eliminates 25-Bandits, Retrieves Weapons And Motorbikes (Full Details)

In a significant development in the North West region, a joint task force engaged in a fierce gun battle with bandits, resulting in the elimination of 25 insurgents. The encounter occurred on May 28 in Kiratawa village, Safana, Katsina State, as terrorists loyal to Abu Radi attempted to invade the area.

Security expert Zagazola Makama commended the government-backed militia, known as Askarawa, for their courage and resilience during the prolonged confrontation, which lasted for several hours. While 25 terrorists were neutralized, some others managed to escape with gunshot wounds, including Abu Radi himself, who evaded capture.

Prominent fighters among the eliminated insurgents included Salisu Burutai, Kir, and Sale. The vigilante group also successfully recovered a significant cache of rifles and motorcycles belonging to the terrorists.

This operation comes in the wake of escalating banditry in the region, with reports emerging of 11 individuals slain in an attack on Unguwar Lamido Village in the Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State. In response, the police, in collaboration with local vigilantes, swiftly retaliated against the assailants.

Contrary to claims of 40 casualties by the bandits, the police spokesperson, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, dismissed such reports as misleading.

In another development, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted airstrikes in Katsina State, resulting in the deaths of thirty terrorists. The strikes targeted terrorist hideouts in Bakai, Bakarya, and Yartsintsiya villages in the Kankara Local Government Area. NAF spokesperson Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet confirmed the operation, stating that credible intelligence had indicated the presence of terrorist kingpins in the area.

Despite the successful airstrikes, terrorist leader Babura narrowly escaped, prompting continued surveillance and subsequent strikes at Tumbun Fulani near Lake Chad, targeting terrorists at a previously abandoned hideout. These coordinated efforts underscore the ongoing battle against insurgency and terrorism in the region, signaling a concerted effort to dismantle terrorist networks and ensure the safety and security of affected communities.