Army Foils Bandit’s Attack in Kano Communities

Army Foils Bandit’s Attack in Kano Communities

 

 

Units from the Joint Task Force have successfully blocked a bandit invasion into several villages within Kano State’s Shanono Local Government Area following an extended firefight.

 

The confrontation, which ignited late Thursday and persisted until dawn on Friday, centered around the communities of Yankwada, Babanduhu, and surrounding settlements.

 

Verifying the clash to the News Agency of Nigeria, Maj. Zubair Babatunde, the Army’s representative in Kano, explained that the criminals attempted to enter the villages on motorcycles while shooting indiscriminately.

 

According to Babatunde, the assault was intended as a retaliatory strike after the bandits suffered heavy losses at the hands of military forces during a skirmish the previous week.

 

The Major detailed that the attackers arrived at approximately 1:00 a.m., which triggered an immediate and robust counter-response from the soldiers on ground.

 

“The military successfully confronted and forced the bandits to retreat,” he reported.

 

Babatunde further noted that the quick actions of the JTF ensured that there were no fatalities among the villagers and protected local assets from being destroyed.

 

He comforted the local populace by reaffirming the military’s dedication to their safety, asking citizens to keep supporting security forces with accurate and prompt intelligence.

 

The spokesperson emphasized that the army is maintaining a high state of readiness to ward off future threats and preserve stability throughout the region.

 

Simultaneously, Alhaji Yahya Bagobiri, who heads the Shanono/Bagwai Community Security Forum, corroborated the report, stating the gang sought vengeance for nine of their members killed by the army last week.

 

“The group arrived on more than 50 motorcycles, each carrying three armed men equipped with bazookas and heavy weaponry, and besieged the villages from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., tragically resulting in one civilian death,” he noted.

 

Nevertheless, he praised the armed forces for their effectiveness in stopping the criminals from reaching the larger urban centers.

 

“Despite being heavily armed, the bandits were driven back by tactical military maneuvers, though they managed to flee with 100 cattle and kill one person,” Bagobiri added.

 

Bagobiri appealed to the Federal Government to increase the supply of advanced weaponry and station more troops to assist the courageous officers currently in the field.

 

He expressed confidence that with upgraded equipment and support from the Nigerian Air Force, the threat could be neutralized in Shanono, Bagwai, Tsanyawa, and Gwarzo.

 

“The criminals intended to push deeper into Kano, but increased troop levels and better hardware would put an end to their operations,” Bagobiri remarked.

 

When reached for comment, Capt. Zubairu Babatunde, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 3 Brigade, confirmed the incident through a digital message.

 

“The report is largely accurate, though we have no record of civilian deaths or cattle being stolen,” Capt. Babatunde clarified in his communication.

 

It is worth noting that just last week, at least nine bandits were reportedly killed during a fierce battle with the military in the Bakaji and Unguwar Garma sectors of Shanono.

 

That previous engagement also resulted in the death of one local vigilante and injuries to another.

 

Additionally, in October, JTF troops under Operation MESA, spearheaded by the 3 Brigade, successfully eliminated at least 19 bandits during a similar operation in the Shanono Local Government Area.