Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) have successfully thwarted a coordinated assault by armed bandits on multiple communities in the Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, following an intense gunfight that lasted through the night and into the early hours of Friday.
The engagement, which began late Thursday night and continued until the early morning of January 2, 2026, unfolded across several villages, including Yankwada and Babanduhu, where residents were jolted awake by the sound of sporadic gunfire.
According to Maj. Zubair Babatunde, spokesperson for the Nigerian Army in Kano, the armed assailants attempted to invade the communities on motorcycles while firing sporadically, setting off a swift and coordinated response from the JTF.
“The bandits were effectively engaged and dislodged by the military,” Maj. Babatunde said, confirming that timely intervention prevented casualties and significant damage to property in the affected areas.
He further emphasised that the troops were on high alert to forestall further attacks and urged communities to continue providing “timely and credible information” to aid security operations.
Confirming the incident from the ground, Alhaji Yahya Bagobiri, Chairman of the Shanono/Bagwai Community Security Forum, described the assault as a reprisal mission by the bandits, allegedly following recent losses suffered at the hands of the military.
“The bandits, riding over 50 motorcycles, each carrying three persons armed with bazookas and other heavy weapons, raided Yankwada, Babanduhu, and other neighbouring villages,” Bagobiri said, adding that the raid lasted from around 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Bagobiri’s account included reports that one civilian was killed and approximately 100 cows were stolen, though Capt. Zubairu Babatunde, the Army’s Assistant Director of Public Relations, later disputed these specific claims, saying via WhatsApp that “all the details are true except they did not kill anyone and there was no rustling of cows.”
Despite differences in casualty and loss figures, Bagobiri commended the military for preventing the bandits from fully penetrating the towns and called on the Federal Government to reinforce security in the region.
“The intention of the bandits was to penetrate Kano, but the redeployment of more military personnel and provision of more arms would stop their criminal missions,” he said.
The skirmish adds to an ongoing security dilemma in parts of Kano State, especially along its borders with Katsina, where communities have repeatedly been targeted by gang attacks, livestock rustling, and kidnappings in recent months. Residents have frequently appealed for greater security presence amid fears of further incursions.
Previous military operations in the area have already seen Nigerian forces neutralise bandits and repel attempted incursions in Shanono and adjoining local councils, reflecting a sustained campaign by the army to secure vulnerable rural axes.
As the threat persists, both military officials and local leaders insist that continued collaboration between security agencies and communities is essential to maintaining peace and deterring future attacks across the region.
