A 70-year-old man, Alhaji Saleh Kasim, has been killed during a bandit attack on Gamji Village in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, while 27 abducted residents have been rescued by security forces.

The Katsina State Government disclosed this in a press release issued on Saturday by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Mu’azu.

According to the statement, about 40 armed bandits, led by a suspected gang leader identified as Kachalla Alhaji Bawa Kabir, invaded the community in the early hours of October 16, 2026.

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The attackers reportedly arrived on 20 motorcycles, abducted 27 residents, mostly women, children and elderly people, and rustled six cows.

The government said Kasim was shot dead during the attack.

Following credible intelligence, troops of the 17 Brigade, working with local hunters and the Community Watch Corps, moved to block the attackers’ escape routes towards the Madaci forest enclave.

At about 6 p.m. on the same day, the troops engaged the bandits at Tashar Bawa forest and successfully rescued all 27 abducted residents.

The rescued victims were subsequently taken to the Machika Military Forward Operating Base for medical attention.

The statement added that joint security teams had commenced clearance operations to flush out the remaining members of the gang and prevent possible reprisal attacks on the community.

The Katsina State Government, under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, reaffirmed its commitment to protecting residents across the state.

Mu’azu commended the troops and community-based security groups for their swift response to the incident.

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested two suspected bandits and recovered more than 150 livestock suspected to have been rustled at Gidan Mutum Daya in Kusada Local Government Area of the state.

The police also dismissed reports that bandits blocked the Katsina-Kano highway in the area, explaining that the temporary disruption of traffic occurred when security operatives moved the recovered livestock across the road.

The disclosure was made by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement on Friday.

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According to the statement, members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) and local vigilantes arrested the suspects during a routine patrol based on actionable intelligence at about 5pm on Thursday.

The suspects were identified as Abdulkadir Umar, (23) and Suleiman Baiti, (21).

“The Katsina State Police Command is aware of a false report circulating on social media alleging that armed bandits blocked the Katsina-Kano Highway at Gidan Mutum Daya in Kusada Local Government Area, Katsina State.

“The Command wishes to state categorically that this report is false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.”

“To set the record straight: On October 15, 2026, at about 5pm, members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and local vigilantes on routine patrol, acting on actionable intelligence, arrested two suspected armed bandits at Gidan Mutum Daya, Kusada LGA.

“Upon preliminary interrogation, both suspects confessed to belonging to a syndicate of armed bandits terrorizing parts of the state.

“Following their confession, at about 6pm on the same day, police operatives attached to the Kusada Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, mobilised jointly with the KSCWC and local vigilantes to a location identified by the suspects. The operation led to the successful recovery of over 150 suspected rustled livestock, comprising cattle, goats, and sheep, which were subsequently moved to a secure facility.

“During the movement of the livestock, vehicular traffic along the Katsina-Kano Highway was briefly halted by security operatives to allow the large herd to safely cross the road. Normal traffic flow was restored immediately afterward.”

The Command insisted that at no point was there an attack by bandits, a road blockade by criminals, or any threat to commuters.

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has uncovered three suspected illegal refining sites containing about 98,000 litres of petroleum products in Okarki community, Ahoada West Local Council of Rivers State.

It was gathered that the discovery was made on October 10, 2026, during an operation conducted by Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder under Operation Delta Sentinel.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, gave the details in a statement, exposing that the sites contained approximately 65,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and 33,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel.

The products were stored in about 12 dugout pits and containers across the three locations.

The Navy said no arrests were made because the suspected operators had fled before the arrival of the naval team, adding that the sites and products were subsequently handled in accordance with established procedures.

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According to the statement, the discovery highlights the scale of suspected illicit petroleum storage in the area and the risk of the products entering unlawful distribution channels.

The Navy said the operation disrupted storage activities at the three locations and denied suspected operators access to a substantial quantity of petroleum products for further illegal handling and sale.

It added that it would sustain intelligence-led patrols and operations to identify illegal refining facilities, disrupt the storage and movement of suspected stolen petroleum products, and support efforts to bring those responsible to justice in accordance with the law.