More than 40 suspected bandits, including eight alleged senior commanders, have been killed after Nigerian security forces repelled an attack on a village in the northern state of Katsina, a state government official has said.
Nasir Mu'azu, Katsina State's commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said joint security personnel engaged the attackers after they raided Guga village in Bakori Local Government Area on July 26, Caliber.Az reports via Chinese media.
According to Mu'azu, intelligence reports had indicated that the armed group was planning attacks on several villages before launching coordinated assaults on Bakori town.
He said the suspected leader of the group, Idi Abasu Aiki, was believed to have suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds during the fighting as security forces forced the attackers to retreat.
Mu'azu said the attempted assault was believed to be linked to an earlier security operation in the area on July 7, during which authorities said the group had suffered heavy losses.
He said the latest attack appeared to be an attempt to regain influence and undermine the community-based security measures established by the state government.
Security forces have since launched clearance operations to recover weapons and other items allegedly abandoned by the fleeing attackers, while surveillance has been stepped up to prevent further attacks, the official added.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
