About 18 suspected bandits have been killed, while arms and rustled cattle were recovered in Gidan Iyado, Kakumi Ward, Bakori council area of Katsina.

Nasir Mua’zu, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs, disclosed this on Monday in a statement.

“In the early hours of Monday, September 21, 2026, at about 0100hrs, a joint security operation comprising hunters, members of Community Watch Corps and local vigilante groups successfully ambushed and neutralised 18 armed bandits at Gidan Iyado, Kakumi Ward, Bakori Local Government Area,” he said. “Acting on credible information about planned mass abduction for ransom by the criminal group, our forces laid an ambush using operational assets and engaged the bandits.”

According to him, the bandits were led by Musa Duki, a former headmaster-turned-bandit kingpin operating from Mununu Forest in Faskari LGA.

One G3 rifle, 2 AK-47 rifles, 14 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, three motorcycles, two cows and 94 sheep were recovered from the bandits.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda assured residents that a sustained covert operation is underway to track down and neutralise the kingpin and dismantle his network.

“We will not relent until every forest and hideout is cleared,” he said.