Katsina is in Northwest Nigeria.
At least nine suspected bandits, including their gang leader popularly known as Solar, have reportedly been killed by the special forces of the Civilian Joint Task Force in the Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Katsina is in Northwest Nigeria.
It was learnt that the Task Force which ambushed the bandits also arrested five others.
The terrorists had invaded the town around 4:30 pm on Sunday, after the evening prayers, riding on 10 motorcycles and wielding sophisticated weapons.
A source told Tribune that the Civilian JTF from Borno which was in Katsina to assist in defeating the terrorists, in conjunction with the locals confronted the terrorists and halted their attack.
"Among those killed is a notorious bandit leader, identified simply as ‘Solar,’" he said.
According to the report, the bandit leader and his gang members had been terrorising Katsina metropolis, along with Katsina, Jibia and Batsari roads.
They were said to be behind the recent attack on the KSTA (Katsina State Transport Authority) bus which claimed three lives. Some passengers were also kidnapped.
The residents of Batsari were said to be jubilating after the foiled attack and in a barbaric manner, made a show of the success of the attack by publicly displaying the severed heads of some of the suspected terrorists.
The arrested suspects were also paraded.
However, the spokesman for the State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, said the Divisional Police Officer for the Batsari area command informed them that only two bandits were killed, while four motorcycles and four AK-47 rifles were recovered.
"I do not know whether the notorious Kidnapper ‘Solar’ was killed," he added.