In Safana LGA, Katsina State, five members of a vigilante group have gone missing after engaging in a battle with bandits at Dogon Marke village.

The clash occurred as the vigilantes attempted to prevent the bandits from escaping a military airstrike that took place around the Zakka, Yauni vicinity at approximately 7:30 pm the previous day.

According to a source, the military successfully targeted the bandits’ camp, resulting in the elimination of some bandits, destruction of their belongings, and ensuing chaos. However, during the attempt to block the terrorists’ escape routes, the five vigilante members disappeared.

The source stated, “Our forces from the villages of Kantamawa, Yabbudu, Wurma, Kudewa, and Danzangi intercepted the escape routes of the terrorists, engaged them in a chase, and wounded others. Unfortunately, since then, we have not seen five members of our forces.”

The names of the missing vigilante members were provided as Rabe Yabbudu, Bala Mai Saida Lohe, Muhammadu Yabbudu, Musa Chogal, and Bala Na Rimi.

As of the time of reporting, neither the military nor the police have confirmed the incident. The spokesperson for the 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Oiza Ehinlaiye, was unreachable, and the police spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, promised to call back but has yet to do so.