Bandits loyal to Bello Turji suffered a heavy blow on Thursday as several of them were killed in a gun duel with the military that lasted for hours.
Sources said a joint military patrol led by the General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army raided the bandits’ enclave in a village called Katanga which is under Isa local government area of Sokoto state.
The military, however, was confronted by the bandits and they fought for hours before they retreated following air raids by the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji.
A reliable source said that a significant number of bandits were neutralized in the fight without a single casualty on the side of the military.
The military were said to be aided by the local vigilantes who were conversant with the terrain.
“Yes, we took the fight to their enclaves and we are recording successes,” a member of the team told our correspondent.
“The GOC is still with us in the bush and he assured us that he will remain with us until all the area is cleared of bandits,” he added.
The eastern parts of Sokoto State have been experiencing bandits’ attacks for years which resulted in the destruction of lives and property.
In a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, elites of the area said 80 people were killed in a single night in the area some months ago.
