More than 150 heavily armed bandits, riding on over 50 motorcycles, raided Yankwada, Babanduhu, and other villages in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State on Thursday night, killing one civilian and rustling about 100 cows.
The attack, which lasted from about 1:00 a.m. on Thursday to 5:00 a.m. on Friday, led to intense gun battles between the bandits and Nigerian military troops deployed to the area.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Shanono/Bagwai Community Security Forum, Alhaji Yahya Bagobiri, said the attackers came on a revenge mission following the killing of nine bandits by the military during an operation last week.
According to him, the bandits were “riding more than 50 motorcycles, with three persons on each, and were armed with bazookas and other sophisticated weapons,” as they stormed the villages and opened fire.
Bagobiri, however, commended the military for their resilience, noting that despite being outgunned, the troops were able to repel the attackers and prevent them from advancing into the main towns.
He said the bandits were eventually forced to retreat, managing only to kill one civilian and steal about 100 cows.
The community security chairman called on the Federal Government to deploy more troops and provide additional weapons and equipment to support the security personnel on ground.
He expressed optimism that with improved logistics and the support of the Nigerian Air Force, banditry would be curtailed in Shanono, Bagwai, Tsanyawa, and Gwarzo Local Government Areas.
Bagobiri warned that the attackers’ intention was to penetrate deeper into Kano State but stressed that increased military presence and better arms would stop their criminal activities.