By Deborah Nnamdi
At least 19 bandits were killed during a fierce gun battle with troops of the Joint Task Force Operation MESA in the Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State.
The confrontation, which occurred on Saturday, November 1, 2025, involved troops of the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, who acted on a tip-off about the movement of bandits around the Ungwan Tudu, Ungwan Tsamiya, and Goron Dutse axis of Shanono.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the command, Captain Babatunde Zubairu, said the troops swiftly mobilized to the scene and engaged the bandits in a heavy exchange of gunfire. Nineteen of the attackers were neutralized, while several motorcycles and two mobile phones were recovered from them.
However, Zubairu added that two soldiers and one vigilante lost their lives in the encounter.
“Following a tip-off on the movement of bandits around the Ungwan Tudu, Ungwan Tsamiya, and Goron Dutse areas at about 5:00 p.m., our troops responded swiftly and repelled the attack. The operation resulted in the neutralisation of 19 bandits,” Zubairu said.
He explained that further clearance operations are ongoing to secure vulnerable communities that have been prone to attacks, particularly those close to the Kano–Katsina border.
The Commander, 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Tukur, reassured residents of the army’s commitment to maintaining peace and security in the state, while calling on citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements.
Communities in Shanono and Tsanyanwa Local Government Areas of Kano State, which share boundaries with Katsina, have recently faced repeated attacks by bandits suspected to have crossed over from neighbouring Katsina State.
