Troops Recover 70 Rustled Livestock in Katsina, Restore De-escalate Farmers-Herders Clash in Sokoto
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have continued to sustain their counter-banditry and peace restoration operations across North-West Nigeria, recovering 70 rustled livestock in Katsina State and restoring calm after a violent clash between farmers and herders in Sokoto State.
In Katsina, the troops recovered 70 goats and several sheep following a fierce gun duel with suspected bandits in Bakori Local Government Area. The encounter occurred on October 25, 2025, at about 11:50 p.m., when armed men loyal to a notorious bandit leader known as Abaku Aiki—who reportedly distanced himself from the recent peace accord—attacked Ganjar and Alhazawa villages.
PRNigeria gathered that the attackers were said to have kidnapped an unspecified number of residents and rustled domestic animals during the invasion. Acting on credible intelligence, the troops, in collaboration with other security agencies, intercepted the bandits at Laila Forest, where a sustained exchange of gunfire forced the criminals to abandon the stolen animals and flee.
Read Also:
Sources confirmed that all 70 goats and some sheep were successfully recovered, while efforts are ongoing to track the fleeing bandits and rescue the abducted victims. The troops assured residents of continuous patrols and inter-agency collaboration to ensure lasting peace and stability in the area.
In a related development, the troops also restored normalcy to Karangiya and Danjawo villages in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State following a violent clash between Hausa farmers and Fulani herders on Sunday morning.
Sources said the confrontation erupted around 9 a.m. over alleged encroachment and cultivation of farmlands along designated cattle routes. The disagreement escalated into violence before the timely intervention of the troops.
Nine people from both sides sustained injuries—five farmers and four herders. Five victims were treated and discharged at the Silame General Hospital, while three others remain hospitalized.
Following the incident, the Chairman of Silame Local Government convened an emergency stakeholders’ meeting to find a lasting solution to the dispute. Troops have intensified patrols and surveillance in the affected communities, where calm has since been restored.
The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining law and order, and supporting peaceful coexistence among all communities across the North-West region.
By PRNigeria
