The bandits were intercepted on the fringes of the border with Zamfara Forest.
The Nigerian military has neutralised scores of terrorists in Kebbi State during an operation to flush them out of the region.
The operation, which took place on Thursday, was in response to the killing of at least 18 soldiers of the Nigerian Army and over 60 members of a local vigilante group in Zuru under Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State earlier this week.
The attack on the fleeing bandits, which took place around the border between Kebbi and Zamfara states, saw a reinforcement of military personnel intercepting and decimating the insurgents in large numbers.
A community leader in the region, who spoke with SaharaReporters on Friday, said residents saw several bullet-ridden bodies of the terrorists near the border with Zamfara Forest after the military operation on Thursday.
“The military took a decisive step by mobilising men and weapons including air support strikes for the operation. The bandits were intercepted on the fringes of the border with Zamfara Forest.
“They were bombarded with airstrikes and infantry support from Sokoto. We counted several bodies ridden with bullets after the military operation. The entire region is tense because nobody knows what will happen next,” the source said.
Revealing that military personnel arrested an informant for the terrorists during the attack, a resident of Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Ahmed Gombai, said that others working closely with the insurgents were already being tracked by the law enforcement agency.
“One informant for the bandits was arrested in Zuru on Thursday and he named three ladies who are collaborators in giving bandits information, especially on this latest attack.
“The military is also tracking them and others for immediate arrest and help to provide more details on the operations of the hoodlums.
“At the moment, we feel safer as huge military men and weapons have been deployed to Bena, Merceri, Magaba, Kanya and Kangon Wasagu areas where the terrorists struck this week. We are hopeful things will get better,” he said.
In a signal seen by SaharaReporters on Thursday, the Nigerian Army confirmed that indeed 18 of its personnel were killed by terrorists in Kebbi during the week.
The army further revealed that soldiers from Light Tank Battalion engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun battle that left eight military personnel wounded and two others missing till date.