Fourteen suspected bandits killed by hunters in Nigeria’s Katsina State
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Dailytrust
Fourteen men suspected of belonging to armed gangs were killed in a clash with community hunters in Gidan Wawo, Katsina State, Nigeria. A hunter and a traveller also died, while three occupants of the attacked vehicle were rescued, according to the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security.
Fourteen suspected bandits were killed on Friday in an exchange of fire with community hunters at Gidan Wawo, in Kakumi district, within the Bakori Local Government Area of Nigeria’s Katsina State. A hunter and a traveller also died, while three other people were rescued, Katsina Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Nasir Mu’azu said in a statement cited by Daily Trust.
Security forces had been alerted to the movement of 26 armed men travelling on 13 motorbikes towards Dawan Laila forest, to prevent a planned mass kidnapping in nearby communities. The attackers then attacked Jamilu Lawal’s vehicle as he was travelling to Illela market in Sokoto State, and set it on fire. Lawal was burned to death, while the vehicle’s three other occupants survived.
The hunter Mohammed Ibrahim Jidda, aged 29, was killed in the clash. Another hunter, 25-year-old Usman Sunday, was slightly injured and is receiving treatment. Nasir Mu’azu warned of a risk of reprisals and called on residents to remain calm and share information with security services, reports Daily Trust.
The attack is part of a series of recent incidents in Nigeria, including the killings and arson attributed to suspected bandits, reported on 24 October.
