Community hunters in Gidan Wawo village, Kakumi Ward of Bakori Local Government Area, Katsina State, have killed 14 suspected bandits in a gun battle that the state government says foiled a planned mass kidnapping.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Mu’azu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday. He said intelligence received at about 1:28 a.m. showed that 26 armed bandits riding 13 motorcycles, allegedly led by the notorious kingpin Isiya Kwashen Garwa, were moving towards Dawan Laila forest in Bakori.

All security assets in the local government area were immediately placed on alert to prevent a planned mass abduction in neighbouring communities.

According to the commissioner, the bandits later attacked a private vehicle belonging to one Jamilu Lawal, aged 50, who was travelling with three other passengers from Kakumi Ward to Illela market in Sokoto State. Hunters from Gidan Wawo mobilised and engaged the attackers in a gun duel, which left 14 of the bandits dead.

Three of the passengers were rescued alive, but Lawal was burnt to death in the vehicle during the rescue operation.

The government said the hunters also paid a heavy price. One of them, 29-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim Jidda, was killed defending the community. Another, 25-year-old Usman Sunday, sustained minor gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment.

Mu’azu described Jidda as a gallant hunter who paid the supreme price in defence of his people.

The state government warned that intelligence has pointed to a possible reprisal attack by the surviving bandits following the heavy losses they suffered. It said countermeasures have been put in place in collaboration with all security agencies to neutralise any further threat in the area. Residents were urged to remain calm and vigilant and to keep giving security agencies timely and credible information.

The government commended the courage and sacrifice of the hunters and security personnel, and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

The incident is the latest in a string of foiled abduction attempts in Bakori. In September, 18 suspected bandits were killed in a similar operation in Gidan Iyado, also in Kakumi Ward, and security agencies later foiled another attempt in nearby Unguwan Hudu village.