Security Forces Repel Bandit Attack, Kill Six in Zamfara

Security operatives in Zamfara State have foiled a coordinated attack by armed bandits on Kanoma Town and Gidan Daji Village in Maru Local Government Area, killing six of the attackers during a fierce gun battle.

The Zamfara State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.

He said the operation was carried out jointly by the police, military personnel and other security stakeholders following a distress call from the affected communities.

According to the statement, the attackers, who stormed the area at about 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, including Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), anti-aircraft guns and AK-47 rifles.

A combined security team comprising Police Tactical Operatives from Maru Division, personnel of Operation Fansar Yamma, operatives of the Violence Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and local vigilantes swiftly mobilised to confront them.

The command said the security forces successfully repelled the invasion and forced the criminals to retreat into nearby forests.

During the exchange of fire, six bandits riding on two motorcycles were neutralised, while several others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds. No casualty was recorded among residents or security personnel involved in the operation.

The police said security had since been reinforced in the area through intensive patrols aimed at restoring normalcy and tracking down the fleeing suspects.

The command reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts against criminal elements.