Residents of Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State broke into jubilation on Monday after troops of the Nigerian Army foiled an attempted attack on their communities and killed at least 13 suspected bandits in a coordinated operation.

Troops deployed in Kurawa near Kwanan Kimbo engaged the attackers in a fierce gun duel that lasted several hours, forcing the assailants to retreat.

Soldiers later pursued the fleeing bandits to their hideout across a stream, where additional casualties were recorded.

A community source told our correspondent that nine bodies were recovered within the area, while four others were found in the surrounding bush.

Several weapons, including AK-47 rifles and ammunition, were also recovered and taken to the military base in Kurawa.

Military sources confirmed the operation, conducted under Operation Fansan Yamma , describing it as “intense” but noting that the army recorded no casualties.

“It was a determined effort by the troops. The terrorists suffered heavy losses,” one source said.

The operation came just days after troops and local vigilantes repelled another attack on Gatawa community on Friday, heightening public confidence in the renewed security efforts.

Across Kurawa, Tarah, Karawa and nearby villages, residents were seen celebrating the military’s success. They urged the army to sustain the tempo to curb recurrent attacks that have plagued Sabon Birni LGA.

Confirming the development, the member representing Sabon Birni in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aminu Boza, said at least nine bodies of the attackers had been sighted, with search efforts continuing.

The Sokoto State Government also praised the troops for their swift action. In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), the government said the military had averted what could have been a tragic assault on traders travelling from Tarah to the Sabon Birni weekly market.

“The professionalism and courage displayed by our military personnel reaffirm their commitment to protecting lives and property,” Usman said.

He added that Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration would continue to support security agencies and called on residents to remain vigilant and share timely intelligence.

“Anyone aiding or abetting criminal activity will face the full weight of the law,” he warned.

Sabon Birni LGA has been one of the hardest-hit areas in Sokoto, suffering repeated attacks in recent months, particularly around Gatawa and neighbouring settlements. Residents say they hope the latest military success marks a turning point in efforts to restore peace to the region.

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The Headquarters 23 Brigade of the Nigerian Army has denied shooting any civilians during the recent communal clash in the Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State, insisting that the two women found dead were killed as a result of militia members’ mishandling their weapons.

The clarification followed reports alleging that soldiers escorting the Brigade Commander of 23 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Yola, shot and killed several women during the clash on Monday.

In a statement posted on its X handle on Tuesday, the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Sector 4 Operation Hadin Kai/23 Brigade, Captain Olusegun Abidoye, described the claims as “baseless and misleading,” stressing that “neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts were at the scene of the communal clash.”

“The commander was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational brief at the time of the alleged incident,” the statement added.

The Brigade explained that combined security forces, including troops of 23 Brigade, the Nigerian Police, NSCDC, and DSS, responded to violent clashes between the Bachama and Chobo tribes, resulting from longstanding land disputes and ethnic tensions.

He noted that troops were deployed to affected communities, including Tingno, Rigange, Tito, Waduku, and Lamurde, to restore calm.

Reiterating its position, the Brigade maintained, “It is necessary to inform the general public that neither the Brigade Commander nor his escorts were at the scene of the communal clash, as the Brigade Commander was participating virtually in the Chief of Army Staff’s weekly operational brief at the time of the purported shooting by his escorts.”

The statement added that troops received distress reports at about 1:35am on Monday and moved swiftly to restore order.

During the operation, the statement explained that a militia group suspected of supporting one of the warring sides reportedly attacked the troops.

“In response, soldiers neutralised three gunmen, and additional members of the militia were later found neutralised along their withdrawal route, along with a motorcycle,” the Brigade stated.

The army further explained that troops advanced to secure the Lamurde Local Government Secretariat after receiving reports of a possible attack. While some women were said to have initially blocked their passage, armed men allegedly opened fire indiscriminately.

“The Brigade clarified that no civilians were shot by Army personnel, and the two women later brought to the Local Government Lodge were reportedly killed due to the unprofessional handling of weapons by the militias,” the statement added.

The Brigade expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged the communities involved to embrace peace to prevent further bloodshed.

It reaffirmed its commitment to performing its constitutional duties in aid of civil authorities and urged the public to disregard what it described as a “malicious report.”

Earlier, The PUNCH reported that the State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, had declared a 24-hour curfew in Lamurde Local Government Area on Monday following the bloody crisis between the communities.

Reacting to the incident, the Bwatiye Youth Wing, the umbrella body of the Bachama ethnic group, condemned what it described as unacceptable actions by some army personnel deployed on a peacekeeping mission in the area.

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Abner Kwakano, the group accused the soldiers of using excessive force.

“It is important to remind the public that the Tsobo (Pire) launched their first coordinated attacks on Waduku and Rigange on July 7, 2025, leading to loss of lives, destruction of homes, and the burning of villages,” the statement read.

“Following this, the Adamawa State Government intervened, and negotiations toward a peaceful resolution were ongoing before this most recent and unprovoked strike.

“Despite these efforts toward peace, soldiers deployed to maintain calm opened fire on unarmed women protesting in Lamurde town, an area not directly involved in the communal crisis.

“This tragic action resulted in the death of no fewer than seven innocent women and left many others seriously injured.”

Kwakano described the conduct of the soldiers as unprofessional and unjustifiable.

“While we acknowledge and respect the Nigerian Army as an institution. The actions of those involved raise legitimate concerns about bias, excessive force, and a departure from peacekeeping standards,” the group added.

The Kwara State University has appealed to the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to construct an overhead bridge along the Shao/Malete Road to reduce accident rates on the busy route to the institution.

The university Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jimoh Shaykh-Lukman, made the plea on Tuesday during the institution’s pre-convocation press conference in the Malete area of the state.

While commending AbdulRazaq for heeding the call to promptly repair the Malete road to ease movement, he said the Federal Government’s intervention on the expressway has not mitigated the dangers.

He said, “Some commercial and even articulated vehicles drive against the traffic in a bid to cut down on the distance to drive to make the turn.

“This constitutes a major hazard for all users of that road. We urge our visitor, Gov. AbdulRazaq, to use his good office to facilitate a flyover bridge fAor safe crossing of the express road.”

He also requested extensions to the existing intra-campus road network for ease of access to facilities.

“Road infrastructure is beyond the ability of the university, and this is why we call on our proprietor, Gov. AbdulRazaq, to intervene in this area,” Shaykh-Lukman said.

Speaking on the forthcoming 13th Convocation Ceremony, the vice chancellor said 8,119 degrees will be awarded on Dec. 13.

He said 7,618 earned a first degree while 501 bagged postgraduate degrees.

The VC added, “There are 82 1st Class honours, 1,986 2nd Class Uppers, 4,195 2nd Class Lowers, and 1,355 3rd Class graduands.

“At the postgraduate level, there are 75 PhDs and 426 Master’s graduands.”

He highlighted the academic progress recorded in the institution over the past year, with the Osi and Ilesha-Baruba campuses now operational.

“Both staff and students of the faculties in the two campuses have been integrated in these communities with lectures and research activities ongoing for the 2025/2026 session.

“This has facilitated the spread of the institution to other parts of the state with the expected socio-economic benefits to the communities hosting them.

“With 81 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the three campuses now, we have maintained our success rate in the accreditation status of programmes,” the VC concluded.

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