A joint security operation early Sunday morning in Jibia and Danmusa Local Government Areas of Katsina State has led to the recovery of 102 domestic animals from bandits after a gun duel.

The security operatives including the police, troops of the Nigeria Army and vigilante, stormed Kadoji and Megezoji villages in Jibia and Danmusa councils respectively in the early hours of Sunday where they dislodged the bandits and recovered the rustled animals from their camps.

The spokesman for the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah confirmed the development on Monday morning.

He explained that the operation was based on credible information on the activities of bandits in their camps located in the two communities.

Isah added that after a fierce gun battle, security operatives were able to subdue the bandits and recovered 43 cows; 47 goats and twelve sheep.

However, he did not reveal whether any arrest was made.

The PPRO said, “On Sunday, 24/10/2021 between the hours of 1130hrs to 1315hrs, based on credible intelligence, a combined team of the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army and vigilante group carried out sting operations in Kadoji village, Jibia, the camp of a notorious bandit, one Bala Wuta. 

“Consequently, after a fierce gun duel, the bandit and his cohorts were dislodged by the gallant security forces. The team succeeded in destroying his camp and recovered fifteen (15) cows, twenty-eight (28) goats and twelve (12) sheep reasonably suspected to be rustled.  

“Similarly, Area Commander, Dutsinma, led a combined team of policemen to Megezoji bandits’ camp at Yantumaki forest, dislodged the bandits, destroyed their camp and recovered twenty-eight (28) cows and nineteen (19) goats, suspected to be rustled.”

Isah said the Command was committed to the current fight against “recalcitrant bandits until they are arrested and dealt with in accordance with the extant laws of the land.”

About nineteen suspects were paraded at the Command’s headquarters in Katsina last Friday for various offences.

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The suspects included a fourteen-year-old alleged bandit cum cattle rustler and a 25- year old man who allegedly masterminded the kidnap of his father for a two million naira ( N2m) ransom.