Nigerian troops killed at least 45 bandits in the country's northern Katsina state on Friday, March 6. 

According to a statement from the Katsina State Government on Saturday, the violence followed an attack by armed gangs of men from neighboring Zamfara State, who attempted to steal cattle on Thursday. 

The attackers returned the following day and encountered troops stationed at the army's Forward Operating Base, leading to a clash in which the army killed 45 of the attackers, the statement said.

A captain and two soldiers were killed in the gun battle, the statement added.