5 die in gun battle between Nigerian soldiers, bandits in Katsina 

Following a gun battle between between Nigerian soldiers and bandits in the Marina community in the Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, four bandits have confirmed killed in the shoot out.

Unfortunately, a soldier was also killed by the terrorists.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen Mohammed Yerima, confirmed the development in a press release on Saturday.

He said that troops attached to Operation Hadarin Daji on Thursday had a gun battle with the terrorists, during which four bandits were killed, with two AK-47 rifles and one motorcycle belonging to the bandits captured.

He said; “”Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji while conducting a clearance operation against armed bandits and other criminal elements on Thursday, engaged and killed four armed bandits, captured arms and motorcycle during an encounter with the armed bandits in Marina village in Safana LGA of Katsina State.

“The unconfirmed number of armed men with an unspecified number of rustled cattle were sighted and intercepted along Batsari-Runka road. However, in an attempt to escape from the troops’ onslaught, the bandits sporadically fired in the troops’ direction, but the troops responded with superior.

“During the encounter, four-armed bandits were neutralised while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot wounds. The troops also captured two AK-47 rifles and one motorcycle belonging to the bandits. Regrettably, one brave soldier paid the supreme sacrifice during the encounter. Troops have dominated the general area and are trailing the escaping bandits.”