An anonymous resident stated that the bandits arrived on motorbikes around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, planning to carry out abductions. While this was not the first time the villagers had confronted bandits, it was the first instance where they managed to inflict significant casualties.
The bandits initiated their attack by firing sporadically to intimidate the community. However, the residents, who had been alerted in advance, were prepared. Armed with locally-made firearms, some villagers fought back while others used traditional weapons to encircle the area, preventing the bandits from escaping.
After an hour of intense fighting, the bandits retreated, leaving 10 of their members dead. The villagers then regrouped, strategized, and set up an ambush. When the bandits returned, the villagers launched another attack, ultimately killing a total of 37 bandits.
The District Head of Matusgi, Alhaji Ciroma Muhammad, confirmed the incident, stating that three villagers were killed during the clash. He also noted that neighbouring villages reported seeing the bandits transporting the bodies of their fallen comrades on motorbikes.
“This is the 13th time bandits have attacked this village,” Alhaji Muhammad said. “Three weeks ago, the bandits kidnapped 23 people, mostly women. They carried out the operation quietly, without firing any shots until after they had left. We only became aware of their departure when they fired a few shots in the distance.”
He added that the bandits had demanded a ransom of N150,000 per person. However, after payment, only seven of the abducted women were released, while the remaining hostages remain in captivity.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government reported that troops on patrol neutralized eight bandits in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.
The troops, on a fighting patrol in the Kampanin Doka area, encountered the bandits. According to Samuel Aruwan, the Overseeing Commissioner for the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, the troops engaged the bandits, killing seven on the spot.
Following a search of the area, the troops recovered several items, including three AK-47 rifles, eight magazines (four empty and four loaded with a total of 120 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition), one magazine carrier, six motorcycles, three mobile phones, two Baofeng radio sets, and three pairs of civilian clothes.
In the final stage of the patrol, the troops encountered additional bandits in the Gayam area, neutralizing one more, while the remaining bandits fled with gunshot wounds.
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