A violent confrontation between the Nigerian military and a large group of armed bandits has left nine insurgents and one vigilante member dead in the Goron Dutse area of Shanono Local Government Area, Kano State.
The gun battle, which began late Saturday and stretched into the early hours of Sunday, centered around the communities of Bakaji and Unguwar Garma. While the military successfully repelled the attackers, the bandits managed to abduct six residents and rustle approximately 40 cows during the chaos. One other vigilante member sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment.
Yahya Bagobiri, Chairman of the Shanono/Bagwai Community Security Forum, provided a detailed account of the encounter while speaking to journalists on Sunday. He explained that after an initial skirmish, the criminals launched a desperate second attempt to penetrate the area at dawn.
“The military killed the bandits and recovered motorcycles, but the criminals sneaked back around 5 a.m.–6 a.m., opening heavy fire on the military, though they could not penetrate the area,” Bagobiri reported.
Despite the heavy presence of troops, the sheer number of the assailants allowed them to seize livestock and captives before retreating.
“Because they came in hundreds, they still abducted six persons and rustled 40 cows. But thanks to the military, who returned heavy fire, killing nine of them, the bandits abandoned many motorcycles,” Bagobiri added.
The chairman further noted that the bandits eventually returned under the cover of the morning hours specifically to retrieve the bodies of their fallen comrades.
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The local community has expressed profound relief following the intervention, noting that the situation could have been far worse without the military’s rapid response.
“Let me honestly commend the military, who safeguarded the area and ensured that the bandits were stopped from causing serious havoc. They deserved to be appreciated because at that time, nobody could even come out of their home,” Bagobiri said.
The 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has confirmed the engagement. Capt. Babatunde Zubairu, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, verified that the troops recovered several items from the scene, though he remained cautious about the specific casualty count of the insurgents.
“Yes, I cannot confirm the exact number of bandits killed, but one vigilante was injured. We recovered three motorcycles and two mobile phones with bloodstains,” he said.
This latest clash follows a successful operation in October by the Joint Task Force Operation MESA, which saw 19 bandits neutralized in the same Shanono Local Government Area, highlighting the region’s ongoing struggle against rural banditry and the military’s intensified efforts to secure the axis.
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