More than 40 suspected bandits were k!lled 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. According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the attack occurred at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026 when over 200 heavily armed bandits stormed the community in what security officials described as a coordinated reprisal attack. The attackers were reportedly 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 intelligence reports, the armed groups had planned to overwhelm local hunters and KSCWC operatives protecting the area before extending the assault to Bakori town and nearby communities. However, security operatives, acting on prior intelligence, mounted a coordinated response that resulted in a fierce gun battle, forcing the attackers to retreat after suffering heavy casualties. Security assessments indicated 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 k!lled. The sources further disclosed that 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 at the time of filing this report. The 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, clearance operations have commenced in the affected area to recover weapons and other equipment abandoned by the fleeing bandits, while surveillance has been intensified to forestall further attacks. 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 slain hunters as courageous patriots who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their communities and extended condolences to their families. Authorities said normalcy has since been restored to Guga and surrounding communities, reaffirming their commitment to sustained joint security operations to protect lives and property across the state. One of the security team members k!lled during the operation was identified as Idris Ibrahim Babawo. Residents described the late Babawo as a man who dedicated himself to protecting his people. His d3ath has sparked grief in the community, with residents praying for Allah to forgive him, accept his sacrifice and grant his family and loved ones the strength to bear the loss.
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