Residents of Sabon Birni Local Government Area in Sokoto State erupted in jubilation on Monday following a successful military operation that foiled a bandit attack on their communities, resulting in the elimination of at least 13 suspected bandits.
Troops stationed in Kurawa near Kwanan Kimbo engaged the assailants in a prolonged gun duel lasting several hours, compelling the bandits to retreat in disarray. Pursuing the fleeing attackers across a nearby stream to their hideout, soldiers inflicted further casualties, with a community source reporting that nine bodies were recovered in the immediate area and four more in the surrounding bush. Several weapons, including AK-47 rifles and ammunition, were seized and transported to the military base in Kurawa, underscoring the operation’s thoroughness.
Conducted under Operation Fansan Yamma, the mission drew praise from military sources who described it as “intense” yet executed without any army casualties.
“It was a determined effort by the troops. The terrorists suffered heavy losses,” one source emphasized. This success followed closely on the heels of another joint operation on Friday, where troops and local vigilantes repelled a bandit assault on Gatawa community, further bolstering public faith in ongoing security measures.
Celebrations swept through Kurawa, Tarah, Karawa, and adjacent villages, where residents openly hailed the military’s prowess and pleaded for sustained operations to end the cycle of violence plaguing Sabon Birni LGA. Alhaji Aminu Boza, the member representing Sabon Birni in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, confirmed the incident, noting that at least nine attacker bodies had been sighted, with clearance operations still underway.
The Sokoto State Government lauded the troops’ intervention, which thwarted a potential massacre of traders en route from Tarah to the Sabon Birni weekly market. In a statement by Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security Matters, the government highlighted the forces’ resolve: “The professionalism and courage displayed by our military personnel reaffirm their commitment to protecting lives and property.”
Usman added that the administration under Governor Aliyu would keep backing security outfits, urging locals to stay alert and provide intelligence, while issuing a stern warning: “Anyone aiding or abetting criminal activity will face the full weight of the law.”
Sabon Birni, nestled along borders with Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger Republic, remains a banditry hotspot, enduring relentless raids especially near Gatawa and nearby hamlets in recent months.
Community voices express optimism that this victory signals a pivotal shift toward lasting stability in the troubled region.
