Troops of Operation FANSAR YANMA, in collaboration with local vigilantes, have repelled another attack by terrorists on Mada town in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing four of the assailants.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert focused on the Lake Chad region, disclosed this on Saturday in a post on his X handle.

Makama disclosed that the attack, which occurred at about 10 p.m. on Friday, was the recent in a series of retaliatory assaults on the town by bandits after the killing of a notorious kingpin in the area.

According to the report, a security source told Makama that the troops, acting on intelligence, swiftly engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to retreat into the forest with gunshot wounds.

“The bandits stormed the town in an attempt to unleash terror, but the security forces and vigilantes responded effectively. We neutralized four of them, while others escaped with injuries,” the source said.

The security expert further stated that a resident identified as Naziru Bakanike Mada sustained a gunshot wound on his shoulder during the confrontation and was rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.

“Friday’s attack marked at least the fourth attempt by the bandits to overrun Mada in revenge for the killing of notorious bandit leader, Alhaji Sani Dan Garin Bawo, by security forces in an earlier military operation.

“Since March 11, to date, fighters loyal to neutralized kingpin headed bandits Dogo Hamza have carried out a large-scale retaliatory attack on Mada. However, security forces have consistently repelled their incursions, inflicting heavy casualties on them.

“Mada is their burial ground, let them keep coming and continue trying their luck and we shall continue sending them to their maker,” Makama said, citing a military official.

Nigerian troops repel terrorist attack, kill 4 in Zamfara