State Government warns of possible reprisal attacks after deadly gun battle leaves community hunter, traveller dead….
The Katsina State Government has announced that a planned mass kidnapping in Bakori Local Government Area has been thwarted after community hunters engaged suspected bandits in a fierce gun battle that left 14 of the assailants dead.
The confrontation occurred in Gidan Wawo village, Kakumi Ward, following intelligence reports that a heavily armed group was moving towards Dawan Laila Forest to launch coordinated attacks on surrounding communities.
According to the state government, security authorities received the intelligence at about 1:28 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026. The report indicated that 26 suspected bandits, travelling on 13 motorcycles, were advancing towards the forest under the leadership of a notorious figure identified as Isiya Kwashen Garwa.
Security agencies subsequently placed their operational assets across Bakori Local Government Area on high alert in a bid to prevent the planned attacks and protect vulnerable communities.
However, the situation took a deadly turn later in the day when, at about 1:31 p.m., the armed men attacked a private vehicle conveying four passengers from Kakumi Ward to Illela Market in Sokoto State.
The attackers reportedly set the vehicle ablaze while the passengers were trapped inside, prompting a swift response from community hunters in Gidan Wawo.
The hunters mobilised to confront the assailants, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire as the suspected bandits attempted to flee. The encounter ended with 14 of the armed men killed, while three victims were rescued alive.
Despite the successful intervention, the operation resulted in casualties among the community defenders and the travellers caught up in the attack.
A 29-year-old hunter, Mohammed Ibrahim Jidda, was killed while defending the community against the assailants. Another member of the group, 25-year-old Usman Sunday, sustained minor gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical attention.
The attack also claimed the life of one of the passengers, identified as 50-year-old Jamilu Lawal, who died after being burnt in the vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Katsina State Government has raised concerns over the possibility of further violence, disclosing that intelligence reports point to potential reprisal attacks by the surviving members of the armed group following the heavy casualties they suffered.
The government said security agencies had activated additional measures to prevent further attacks and address emerging threats to communities in the area.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Danmusa, the state government commended security personnel and community hunters for their swift response, courage and sacrifice in confronting the suspected bandits.
It said their intervention helped prevent what could have resulted in a large-scale abduction, while reaffirming its commitment to protecting residents and their property across the state.
The government also called on residents to remain calm and vigilant, urging them to provide security agencies with timely and credible information that could help prevent further attacks.
With warnings of possible reprisals now emerging, authorities have emphasised the need for continued cooperation between residents, community hunters and security agencies to prevent further threats to lives and property in the affected communities.
