Sabon Layi attack

Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State has been a hotspot of banditry, most often from Ansaru, since the late 2010s.^[1] On April 1, 2023, Nigerian officials reported that eleven militants were killed during an offensive against militant camps around several towns, including Sabon Layi.^[2] The clearance was part of the Nigerian army's Operation Whirl Punch against bandits in the area.^[3]

The attack began around 8am on April 12, when bandits stormed the village of Sabon Layi.^[4] Nigerian officials first received notification of the attack at 9:44am.^[5] The assailants shot sporadically for an hour, stealing livestock and looting from homes before they fled.^[4] The bodies of five victims were discovered in the village, and four others were found in the bush.^[4] Many residents escaped into the bush, with the IOM saying that around 60 residents were displaced in the attacks.^[6]

Nigerian aerial forces from Operation Whirl Punch entered Sabon Layi and pursued the attackers later that day. The bandits were discovered four kilometers north of Sabon Layi, where they were airstriked and an unknown number were killed and injured.^[4] Blurred photos released by Samuel Aruwan showed the bodies of at least four militants.^[5]