This is contained in a statement issued by Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations on Saturday in Abuja.

He said the troop were in a joint patrol with Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Katsina State, under operation "SHARAN DAJI"

Usman said that the team swung into action and pursued the suspected armed bandits towards Dumburu forest in Zamfara.

The spokesman said during the encounter, the team killed one of the suspected cattle rustlers and armed bandits, while the other two escaped with gun shot wounds.

He said that items recovered included an AK-47 rifle with registration number 1985PS6288, additional AK-47 rifle magazine and 3 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.

In a related development, a combined team arrested a suspected notorious cattle rustler and armed bandit, Abubakar Mohammed and his boys, Ana's Gora and Bello Sani.

He said items recovered from them included 49 cattle and 25 sheep.

Usman said that the special raids were carried out along Faskari-Sheme-Mairuwa road, Katsina State.

He said the suspects have been handed over to the police for prosecution and animals recovered handed over to the secretary, Faskari Local Government Area Council for handing over to their owners.