The Katsina State Government says community hunters killed 14 suspected bandits and rescued three travellers during a gun battle in Bakori Local Government Area on Friday, October 23. A hunter and a traveller also died.
The confrontation followed an attack on a private vehicle carrying four people from Kakumi Ward to Illela Market in Sokoto State. The attackers set the vehicle on fire, according to the government.
The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Danmusa, said in a statement that hunters from Gidan Wawo village were mobilised and fought the attackers.
The government named the hunter who died as Mohammed Ibrahim Jidda. Channels Television reported his age as 29. Another hunter, Usman Sunday, 25, suffered gunshot injuries and was receiving treatment.
One of the travellers, Jamilu Lawal, died in the burning vehicle, the statement said. Channels Television gave his age as 50.
Before the vehicle attack, the government said security agencies had received intelligence at about 1:28 a.m. that 26 armed men on 13 motorcycles were heading towards Dawan Laila Forest to prepare attacks on nearby communities. It identified their leader as Isiya Kwashen Garwa.
The statement said security assets in Bakori were placed on alert and a planned mass abduction was disrupted. It put the later attack on the travellers at about 1:31 p.m. that day.
The government warned of possible reprisal attacks and said it was working with security agencies on countermeasures. It urged residents to remain vigilant and pass timely information to the authorities.
Sources: Channels Television, Daily Post
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