Stray bullet kills 35-year-old man as troops repel bandit attack

A coordinated response by military and police forces thwarted an attempted attack by bandits on Tozai village in the Isa Local Council of Sokoto State on Monday.

According to a post by security expert, Zagazola Makama, on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, about 90 hoodlums on motorcycles stormed the village in a bid to launch an attack but met stiff resistance from security forces.

An ensuing gun battle forced the assailants to retreat.

But during the exchange of fire, a stray bullet fired by the bandits struck a resident, 35-year-old Sule Ummaru, as he tried to flee the scene.

In a related development, the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj.-Gen. Waidi Shuaibu has urged wounded soldiers not to relent in their fight against terrorism, kidnapping and banditry in the Northeast and Northwest regions.

According to him, terrorism in the Northeast has claimed about 40,000 lives with the destruction of $9.2 billion (N14.72 trillion) worth of property. Represented by Brig-Gen. Anthony Okpodu, the commander inspired the wounded soldiers during a luncheon to mark the end of the Ramadan fast at the Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.

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“As we welcome you to celebrate this blessed day, I want you to take a moment in acknowledging the tremendous efforts and sacrifices made by you here today,” he said.

Also, the Northern Elders Political Development has commended the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for their efforts in enhancing security across the Northwest region.

In a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna, the group’s Secretary, Dr Adamu Giwa, noted that most towns and villages in the region celebrated Eid-el-Fitr peacefully, with only isolated cases of unrest reported in parts of Sokoto and Zamfara.

The commendation followed the success of Operation Fansa Yamma, which has dismantled several bandit enclaves, significantly improving travel and trade along key routes, including Sokoto-Gusau-Kano. The group also acknowledged the military’s sacrifices, lauding Matawalle’s unwavering support for troops to boost their morale.

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