Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The death toll among criminal commanders continues to mount following Sunday's failed reprisal attack on Guga village in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, as local sources have identified a second notorious bandit among those neutralised during the fierce gun battle. The latest casualty has been named as Babay, a member of the armed groups operating in the Tsafe axis of Zamfara State, who reportedly joined the retaliatory mission mobilised by the infamous bandit leader Idi Abasu Aiki but never made it back.
Sources in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State confirmed Babay's identity on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, making him the second known member of the attacking force to be killed in the operation, following the earlier identification of the notorious commander Iliya Mai Rasha. Both men were part of a heavily armed group of over 200 bandits that stormed Guga village on Sunday evening, July 26, 2026, in what authorities described as a reprisal attack for an earlier operation on July 7.
The assault, which began at approximately 5:40 p.m., was led by the notorious kingpin Idi Abasu Aiki and supported by members of the Ado Aleru criminal network from neighbouring Zamfara State. However, intelligence gathered ahead of the invasion enabled a coordinated response from local vigilantes, members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, and troops of the Nigerian Army's 17 Brigade. The combined security forces engaged the bandits with superior firepower, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray.
The Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Muazu, confirmed that more than 40 bandits were neutralised during the operation, with nearly eight senior commanders among the dead. The most significant casualty among the criminal ranks was Iliya Mai Rasha, a bandit commander whose deadly operations had long terrorised Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State and adjoining communities. According to security sources, Mai Rasha had answered an invitation from Idi Abasu Aiki to join the assault on Guga, a decision that proved fatal.
The identification of Babay as the second commander to fall in the battle further underscores the scale of the defeat suffered by the bandit coalition. Local sources say Babay was part of the armed groups operating in the Tsafe axis and had joined the retaliatory mission but never made it back. His elimination, alongside that of Mai Rasha, represents a significant blow to the criminal networks operating across the Katsina-Zamfara corridor. Intelligence reports also indicate that Idi Abasu Aiki, the mastermind behind the assault, sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds during the encounter.
The victory, however, came at a painful cost. Officials confirmed that five members of the local hunters' team lost their lives during the encounter. According to the government's statement, these brave volunteers were fatally shot after being caught outside the frontline while attending to personal errands during the operation. Other sources also reported the deaths of four operatives of the Civilian Joint Task Force and one civilian during the attack. The Katsina State Government expressed deep sorrow over their deaths, describing them as courageous patriots who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their communities.
The assault on Guga was not an isolated incident but rather the latest chapter in a cycle of violence that has plagued the community for years. Intelligence reports indicated that the attack was a reprisal for an earlier operation on July 7, 2026, at Dawan Laila Village in Bakori LGA, where the same bandit network suffered significant losses at the hands of local vigilantes and the Community Watch Corps. Guga and several neighbouring communities in northern Bakori have experienced repeated attacks by armed bandits in recent years, resulting in loss of lives, abductions for ransom, and large-scale livestock theft.
The successful repulsion of the attack highlights the growing effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations in degrading terrorist and bandit networks across the North-West. The collaboration between local hunters, the Community Watch Corps, and the military's 17 Brigade demonstrated the potency of community-based security frameworks when properly supported and coordinated. However, the loss of five hunters and other civilian volunteers serves as a stark reminder of the immense risks shouldered by those on the frontlines of Nigeria's battle against banditry. Their bravery and commitment continue to play a crucial role in efforts to restore peace across the region, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten. As the community of Guga mourns its fallen heroes, the identification of Babay and Mai Rasha among the dead confirms that the resistance dealt a devastating blow to the criminals who sought to bring them to their knees.
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