Suspected bandits have killed a vigilante leader during an attack on Gora Village in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, triggering a protest that led to the temporary blockade of the Malumfashi–Katsina highway.

Katsina State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, DSP Abubakar Sadiq.

According to the statement, a distress call was received at the Malumfashi Divisional Police Headquarters at about 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, reporting that armed bandits had attacked Gora Village.

The police said the Divisional Police Officer immediately mobilised a team of operatives to the scene, where they repelled the attackers and foiled the assault. 

However, before the arrival of the security team, the bandits had fatally shot the community’s vigilante leader, Alhaji Nuhu Barau.

The command said surveillance and patrols had been intensified in the area to track down the fleeing suspects.

The statement added that at about 5:00 p.m. on the same day, police received another distress call that an angry crowd had blocked a section of the Malumfashi–Katsina highway, disrupting vehicular movement.

According to the police, the Divisional Police Officer, supported by military personnel, responded to the scene and restored normalcy after dispersing the protesters and clearing the highway.

The command said no arrests had been made in connection with the incidents, adding that investigations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing attackers and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq urged residents not to take the law into their own hands and appealed to members of the public to channel grievances through lawful means.

Meanwhile, local sources claimed that another resident was also killed during the attack in Gidan Barau village and that the highway remained blocked for about four hours before security personnel dispersed the protesters.

The police, however, officially confirmed only the death of the vigilante leader, Alhaji Nuhu Barau.

Sokoto State Police Command has rescued eight kidnapped victims, recovered 689 rustled domestic animals and arrested suspected kidnappers, bandits and criminal collaborators during a series of operations across the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists in Sokoto on the Command’s security operations carried out between May and July 2026.

Shaffa said coordinated operations involving police tactical teams and other security agencies foiled several bandit attacks in Tangaza, Wamakko, Tureta, Bodinga and other parts of the state, leading to the recovery of 689 stolen domestic animals, which have since been returned to their rightful owners.

He said six travellers abducted along the Rabah-Maikujera Road were rescued after a joint police and military team engaged bandits in a gun battle, forcing them to flee, while two other victims were rescued during a separate operation in Jaredi Village, Binji Local Government Area. 

According to him, all eight victims were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families.

The police commissioner said intelligence-led operations also resulted in the arrest of several suspected kidnappers, bandits and informants, including three suspects who allegedly confessed to participating in attacks in Tangaza, Gudu, Sabon Birni and Gwadabawa Local Government Areas.

He added that operatives arrested a suspected bandit informant and another suspect accused of using WhatsApp to impersonate a bandit and threaten his former employer after being dismissed from work.

Shaffa further disclosed that police intercepted a suspected collaborator allegedly supplying fuel to members of the Lakurawa terrorist group around Bilangi Forest. 

One suspect was arrested, while another fled, abandoning petroleum products, suspected cannabis and tramadol tablets.

The commissioner also said operatives neutralised four suspected bandits in separate operations in Bodinga and Daraye Village in Wamakko Local Government Area, recovering two AK-47 rifles and 53 rounds of live ammunition.

He added that the Command arrested two suspected drug traffickers transporting large quantities of illicit drugs and dismantled a motorcycle theft syndicate, recovering 14 stolen motorcycles and arresting 23 suspects.

Shaffa also disclosed that 105 vehicles had been impounded for traffic violations, while 96 offenders had been prosecuted since the enforcement exercise began on June 16. 

He urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible information, assuring that the Command would sustain intelligence-led operations to protect lives and property across the state.

One soldier has been gunned down after troops of the Combat Team of the 8 Division repelled a terrorist ambush during a patrol in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

This was disclosed in a post on X by security expert, Zagazola Makama.

Zagazola revealed that the troops from Forward Operating Base, FOB, Raka came under attack at about 5:30 p.m. on July 14 while on patrol around Zurmuku Village.

According to him, the terrorists launched the ambush as the patrol approached the area, but the troops responded decisively and fought their way out of the attack.

He added that during the encounter, one soldier sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.

He, however, later succumbed to his injuries.

Recall that on June 30, two Nigerian soldiers were killed while three others sustained injuries after troops of the Nigerian Army repelled a coordinated terrorist attack during an operation in Isa Local Government Area of the state.