Troops of the Nigerian Army have thwarted multiple bandit attacks in Katsina State, recovering arms and boosting confidence among residents of vulnerable communities.
The operation, carried out over the weekend, followed credible intelligence about planned assaults on farming settlements in Batsari and Jibia local government areas. According to military sources, troops engaged the armed groups in a series of confrontations, forcing them to retreat with heavy casualties.
Recovered items include several AK-47 rifles, magazines loaded with ammunition, and locally fabricated weapons. The soldiers also destroyed makeshift camps and seized motorcycles used by the bandits for swift movements.
Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, said the successful operations reflect the military’s renewed commitment to restoring peace in Katsina and the wider North-West. He commended the troops for their professionalism and urged residents to continue providing timely information to security forces.
Community leaders in the affected areas welcomed the intervention, describing it as a morale booster for villagers who have long lived under the shadow of repeated attacks. “Our people can now go to their farms with more confidence,” said Malam Usman Lawal, a traditional leader in Batsari. “The presence of the troops gives us hope that normalcy is returning.”
The state government also applauded the operation, stressing that closer collaboration between security agencies and locals remains critical in dismantling the networks of armed groups.
Military authorities assured that clearance operations will continue across forests and border corridors to deny criminals freedom of action, while measures to win the trust of rural dwellers—such as medical outreach and community engagement—are being expanded.
Observers say the latest success could mark a turning point in efforts to checkmate banditry in Katsina, a state that has suffered significant losses to criminal violence in recent years.
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