The Nigerian Army has killed 45 suspected bandits in a fierce confrontation in Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Diaspora Digital Media understand that the operation was launched following credible intelligence on the movement of bandits operating across parts of Katsina and neighboring Zamfara states.
Among those killed during the operation were two prominent bandit leaders identified as Kachallah Alti, said to be a nephew and second-in-command to notorious bandit kingpin Adamu Alieru, and another commander known as Damale.
Sources said the confrontation followed an earlier attack by bandits riding on motorcycles and armed with sophisticated weapons who stormed Alhazawa village in Musawa Local Government Area on March 5 and rustled cattle belonging to residents.
Community members and some repentant bandits in the area reportedly resisted the attack, killing four of the bandits and recovering the stolen cattle, which were returned to their owners.
However, the bandits were said to have regrouped and returned in larger numbers on March 6, allegedly to launch a reprisal attack.
While advancing toward Musawa through Maidabino A Ward, the bandits reportedly ran into troops stationed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Dan Ali, Danmusa LGA.
This resulted in a fierce exchange of gunfire during which troops overpowered the attackers and neutralised 45 of them.
However, the operation also recorded losses on the side of the military as three soldiers were killed during the encounter.
Further checks indicated that Alti had recently assumed a more active operational role within the bandit network after the death of his brother, Kachalla Dan Isihu, who was previously killed by security forces during counter-banditry operations.
Alti was said to have coordinated several violent attacks across communities, particularly along the Danjibga axis in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.
