Security Forces Kill Notorious Bandit Leader Iliya Mai Rasha, Over 40 Fighters in Katsina Offensive
A notorious bandit commander, Iliya Mai Rasha, has been confirmed among more than 40 armed bandits neutralised during a fierce gun battle between security forces and criminal gangs in Guga Village, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources said Mai Rasha, who had been linked to numerous attacks, kidnappings and other violent crimes in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State and adjoining communities, was among the senior commanders who participated in the failed assault on Guga on Sunday.
According to intelligence sources, the attack began at about 5:40 p.m. on July 26, when over 200 heavily armed bandits drawn from criminal networks operating across Katsina and neighbouring Zamfara State invaded the community at the instance of a notorious bandit kingpin, Idi Abasu Aiki.
The attackers, however, encountered stiff resistance from a combined security team comprising troops of the Nigerian Army’s 17 Brigade, personnel of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC), and local hunters.
The coordinated response resulted in a prolonged exchange of gunfire that forced the bandits to retreat after suffering heavy casualties.
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Security sources disclosed that more than 40 bandits were neutralised during the operation, including at least eight senior commanders. The sources also revealed that Idi Abasu Aiki sustained severe gunshot wounds during the encounter and is believed to be in critical condition.
The elimination of Iliya Mai Rasha is regarded as a significant operational success in the ongoing campaign against banditry in the North-West. The deceased commander had long been identified by security agencies as a key figure in several violent attacks, kidnappings and other criminal activities across the Katsina-Zamfara corridor.
Military sources said the operation has dealt a major setback to the criminal network operating within the axis, with follow-up clearance operations continuing to recover abandoned weapons, dismantle bandit hideouts and track fleeing suspects.
Despite the success, the operation claimed the lives of five local hunters who were reportedly caught outside the main battlefront during the exchange of fire, underscoring the risks faced by community-based security volunteers supporting military operations.
Military authorities and the Katsina State Government have commended the courage, coordination and sacrifice demonstrated by the troops, local hunters and members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps in repelling the attack and restoring calm to the affected community.
By PRNigeria
