No fewer than 40 suspected bandits have been killed after a combined team of local hunters and the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) repelled a large-scale attack on Guga Village in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said the attack occurred at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, when more than 200 heavily armed bandits stormed the community in what was described as a coordinated reprisal attack.
Intelligence reports indicated that the assailants were led by notorious bandit kingpin Idi Abasu Aiki and reinforced by fighters linked to the Ado Aleru criminal network operating from neighbouring Zamfara State.
According to the sources, the attackers had planned to overwhelm local hunters and KSCWC operatives protecting the community before extending the assault to Bakori town and other neighbouring communities.
However, acting on prior intelligence, the security team mounted a coordinated response that resulted in a fierce gun battle, forcing the attackers to retreat after suffering heavy casualties.
Security assessments showed that more than 40 bandits were neutralised during the confrontation, while follow-up intelligence confirmed that about eight senior commanders of the criminal network were among those killed.
The sources further disclosed that bandit leader Idi Abasu Aiki sustained what were described as life-threatening gunshot injuries during the exchange of fire, although his fate could not be independently verified as of the time of filing the report.
The latest operation followed an earlier clash on July 7 at Dawan Laila Village, where the same criminal network reportedly suffered significant losses during an engagement with local security volunteers.
Meanwhile, security agencies have commenced clearance operations in the area to recover weapons and other equipment abandoned by the fleeing bandits, while surveillance has been intensified to prevent further attacks and track down the escaping suspects.
The Katsina State Government also confirmed that five members of the hunters’ team lost their lives during the operation after they were caught outside the frontline while attending to personal shopping activities.
The government described the deceased as “courageous patriots who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their communities,” and extended its condolences to their families.
Authorities said normalcy has since been restored to Guga Village and surrounding communities, reaffirming their commitment to sustained joint security operations aimed at protecting lives and property across the state.
The government also pledged to continue working with local security volunteers and other stakeholders to tackle banditry and other forms of criminality in Katsina State.
