Security operatives have killed seven suspected bandits and rescued 34 abducted victims, including women and children, in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The victims were rescued after suspected bandits attacked Gidan Bawa community in the Kandarawa area on Tuesday night and abducted several residents while attempting to move them into the forest.

The attackers, numbering about 40, were reportedly led by a notorious criminal identified as Isiya Kwashen Garwa and were said to have abducted 45 people, mostly women and children.

Following a distress call, a joint team comprising local hunters, Civilian JTF personnel and operatives of the state government-owned Community Watch Corps moved to intercept the attackers.

A source familiar with the incident said the security operatives positioned themselves at Guga camp, located along the route the bandits were expected to use to move the abducted victims.

According to the source, the operatives ambushed the bandits as they approached the camp, leading to a gunfight between both sides.

The source said seven of the suspected bandits were killed during the exchange, while 34 of the abducted victims were rescued.

However, three people targeted for abduction were killed during the gunfight, while five others remained missing as of Wednesday.

The source said it was unclear whether the missing persons escaped during the confrontation or were taken away by the fleeing bandits.

The security personnel also recovered 19 cattle and other items allegedly stolen from the community during the attack.

Security authorities are continuing efforts to locate the missing persons and track down the remaining bandits who fled the scene, the source said.

The spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, had yet to respond to inquiries or issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.