Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) have repelled a suspected revenge attack by bandits on several communities in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State after a prolonged gun battle.
The clash, which began late Thursday night and lasted into the early hours of Friday, occurred in Yankwada, Babanduhu and other neighbouring villages.
Confirming the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Nigerian Army spokesperson in Kano, Maj. Zubair Babatunde, said the assailants attempted to invade the communities on motorcycles while firing sporadically.
According to him, the attack was a reprisal following the killing of some bandits during an earlier encounter with troops last week.
“The bandits stormed the affected villages at about 1:00 a.m., but troops responded swiftly and effectively engaged them,” Babatunde said.
He added that the timely intervention of the JTF prevented casualties and significant damage to property.
“The bandits were effectively engaged and dislodged by the military,” he said, assuring residents of the army’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
Babatunde urged members of the public to continue cooperating with security agencies by providing timely and credible information, noting that troops remained on high alert to prevent further attacks across the state.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Shanono/Bagwai Community Security Forum, Alhaji Yahya Bagobiri, also confirmed the incident, describing it as a revenge mission by the bandits.
“The bandits came on over 50 motorcycles, with three persons on each, armed with bazookas and other heavy weapons,” Bagobiri said.
He alleged that the attackers opened fire between 1:00 a.m. on Thursday and 5:00 a.m. on Friday, killing one civilian and stealing about 100 cows.
Bagobiri, however, commended the military for preventing the bandits from penetrating the main towns.
“They were dislodged by the military’s tactical fighting despite coming with heavy arms,” he said, while calling on the Federal Government to deploy more personnel and provide additional arms to security operatives in the area.
He expressed confidence that with improved support and cooperation with the Nigerian Air Force, peace would return to Shanono, Bagwai, Tsanyawa and Gwarzo local government areas.
However, when contacted, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Capt. Zubairu Babatunde, disputed parts of the account.
“All the details are true except they did not kill anyone and there was no rustling of cows,” he said in a WhatsApp message.
Recall that no fewer than nine bandits were reportedly killed last week during a gun battle with troops at Bakaji and Unguwar Garma in the Goron Dutse area of Shanono Local Government Area.
Similarly, one vigilante member was said to have been killed, while another sustained injuries during the encounter.
Troops of Operation MESA, led by the 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, had also neutralised at least 19 bandits during an earlier operation in Shanono Local Government Area in October.
