Martins Olasehinde
KATSINA, Nigeria – Two security operatives were reportedly killed in a confrontation with terrorists – locally dubbed as bandits in Nigeria.
The victims – comprising a member of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and a vigilante, were killed in a confrontation with bandits who attacked Jibia Local Government Area in the northwestern state of Katsina, local news outlets reported.
The simultaneous, coordinated assaults were launched on Thursday, 7 Nov., targeting Ka’ida, Unguwar One Boy, and Danmarke quarters in Jibia Township.
The attacks, which began around 9:15 pm, left five residents with gunshot wounds, with the state police command saying the injured were promptly taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The swift response of a joint security team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Jibia successfully repelled the attackers after an intense gunfight that lasted over an hour, police spokesman ASP Abubakar Sadiq said in a Friday statement.
“The superior firepower and tactical advantage of the joint security team eventually forced the bandits to retreat with unspecified casualties.”
The operation also resulted in the successful rescue of sixteen individuals who the bandits had trapped, according to the police.
“Further developments will be communicated in due course,” Sadiq added, emphasizing that the police, in conjunction with other security agencies, are intensifying efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of the attacks.
Katsina State Commissioner of Police Aliyu Musa reassured the public of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
The police boss urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency numbers: 0815 967 7777 and 0707 272 2539.