Several armed bandits were neutralised on Monday after troops intervened to rescue traders who came under attack along the Tarah–Karawa route in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The traders were travelling from Tarah village to the weekly Sabon Birni market when the assailants ambushed them at Kwanan Akimbo around 8am.
Confirming the incident, Hon. Aminu Boza, the lawmaker representing Sabon Birni in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, said at least nine bodies believed to be those of the attackers had been recovered, with further searches ongoing.
“A significant number of weapons and motorcycles were seized from the bandits. I hope our military personnel will maintain this level of response,” he added.
According to residents, soldiers stationed in Kurawa town reacted promptly upon hearing the gunshots, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle that lasted nearly an hour.
“The army responded immediately and confronted the bandits. They later withdrew and fled toward their hideout across the stream. We counted nine bodies of the bandits in our area, while another four were found in the surrounding bush and near the stream. Soldiers also recovered weapons and motorcycles,” one resident told our correspondent.
He added that two civilians were injured and are receiving treatment at a hospital, but all the traders were rescued without any fatalities.
“There was no casualty on the part of the soldiers,” he said.
Residents of Kurawa and nearby communities reportedly celebrated the successful operation.
