Joint Task Force Operation MESA repels armed assailants in Shanono, recovers motorcycles and mobile phones as mop-up operations continue.
In a fierce gun duel that broke out on Saturday night in the Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, troops of the Joint Task Force Operation MESA, led by the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, neutralised at least 19 bandits and recovered weapons and other items.
The Nigerian Army confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday by Captain Babatunde Zubairu, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade. According to the statement, two gallant soldiers and one member of a local vigilante group lost their lives during the operation.
The encounter began around 5 p.m. on November 1, 2025, following intelligence reports of bandits moving through Unguwar Tidu, Unguwar Tsamiya, and the Goron Dutse axis of Shanono. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, the troops, in collaboration with other security agencies, launched an offensive that forced the bandits out of the area.
The statement explained that the bandits, who arrived on motorcycles, engaged the troops in a prolonged exchange of gunfire. Despite the intense battle, the soldiers successfully pursued the assailants, killing 19 of them and recovering several motorcycles and two mobile phones believed to belong to the criminals.
Captain Zubairu noted that while the operation recorded significant success, it came at a cost, as two soldiers and one vigilante paid the supreme price in the line of duty. He assured that further operations are ongoing to flush out any remaining threats and to safeguard communities vulnerable to banditry and cattle rustling.
“The Nigerian Army urges citizens to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest security agency,” the statement read.
Brigadier General Ahmed Tukur, Commander of the 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, reaffirmed the commitment of the troops to maintaining peace and ensuring the safety of law-abiding citizens across Kano State. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation between the public and the security forces, stressing that collective effort remains key to defeating banditry and other forms of insecurity in the region.
The Army has vowed to sustain its operations across the North-West to dismantle criminal networks and restore stability in affected communities.
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