Bandit Kingpin, 60 others dead as DSS, vigilante foil bloody Katsina attack
Security Operation in Katsina Claims More than 60 Suspected Bandits
More than 60 suspected bandits, including a prominent figure known as Idi Abasu Aiki, were reportedly killed during a security operation in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State. The operation was carried out after authorities indicated it was a response to a planned attack on local communities.
Zagazola Makama, a security analyst, provided details on the operation, which involved the Department of State Services (DSS) and was supported by members of the Katsina State Community Vigilantes and trained local hunters.
The operation targeted over 200 armed bandits allegedly led by Aiki, who is linked to numerous attacks in both Katsina and Zamfara states. According to Makama, the bandits targeted Guga village in Bakori with plans to strike communities believed to have supported local security groups.
Makama noted that the attack was reportedly a form of retaliation for an earlier encounter in Dawan Laila village, where local hunters had inflicted significant losses on the armed group.
“Unbeknownst to the bandits, the DSS had developed comprehensive intelligence regarding their movements. The over 200 armed bandits essentially fell into a trap, resulting in the deaths of more than 60 individuals, including Idi Abasu Aiki and 14 of their commanders,” he stated.
The report also indicated that four members of the Katsina State Community Vigilantes and local hunters involved in the operation were killed during the encounter. Following the operation, security forces conducted clearance efforts in the area, recovering weapons and other items left behind by the bandits.
