The security forces have captured a suspected bandit in Kuki, Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, on Friday, August 8, 2025, following a late-night raid that disrupted a bandit incursion.
The arrest marks another step in the ongoing fight against banditry plaguing Nigeria’s northwest.
According to sources, the suspect was apprehended alive after a fierce exchange of gunfire between troops and armed assailants who infiltrated the town under the cover of darkness. “The assailants were met with strong resistance after vigilante operatives confronted them,” a security source reported, as cited by AfriPost. The swift response by security personnel overwhelmed the attackers, forcing the group to scatter, leaving their captured comrade behind.
The operation, detailed in a video shared by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, underscores the vigilance of Katsina’s security forces, including police and vigilante groups, in tackling the region’s rampant banditry. While the identity of the suspect remains undisclosed, the arrest adds to recent successes, such as the March 2025 elimination of notorious bandit leaders Yusuf Gwamna and Malam Ashiru in Dutsin-Ma, signaling intensified efforts to restore peace.
Katsina State continues to grapple with bandit attacks, with recent incidents like the April 2025 abduction of residents and the killing of a vigilante highlighting the persistent threat. Authorities are yet to release an official statement, but the community remains hopeful that such operations will curb the violence. Security forces are intensifying patrols and clearance operations to track fleeing bandits and secure the region.