An intelligence-led operation by the Department of State Services (DSS), supported by community vigilantes and specially trained hunters, has led to the death of more than 60 suspected bandits in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said notorious bandit kingpin Idi Abasu Aiki, who was accused of leading several attacks across parts of Katsina and Zamfara states, was among those killed during the operation.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the operation involved members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and local hunters. Four members of the supporting security groups were also killed during the encounter.
Sources said more than 200 armed bandits, led by Aiki, had stormed Guga village in Bakori LGA. The group was reportedly joined by fighters linked to the Ado Aleru band in Zamfara State and was allegedly planning an attack on communities accused of supporting local security groups.
The operation was said to have followed a previous clash in Dawan Laila village, Bakori LGA, where hunters reportedly inflicted heavy casualties on the bandits.
Security sources stated that the attackers were planning a reprisal operation aimed at weakening community defence groups before carrying out further attacks on nearby villages.
However, the DSS was said to have received intelligence about the planned movement of the bandits and prepared an ambush. More than 60 bandits, including Aiki and 14 of his commanders, were killed during the operation.
Following the encounter, security operatives launched a clearance operation to recover weapons and other items abandoned by the bandits.
