The army spokesperson said the troops swiftly mobilised to the scene of the kidnap incident after a distress call.
“We are going to fight. We are not going to stop, and that is what I said,” he said.
The Army Council has approved the promotion of 122 senior officers to major general and brigadier general.
While addressing the troops, Mr Lagbaja commended the special forces brigade for their sacrifices and service to the nation.
According to a member of a local vigilante group in Katsina, some of the bandits who stormed the villages wore military fatigues.Â
Mr Nwachukwu said the last trooping and presentation of colours parade for the army units was conducted in 2007.
The state police spokesperson, Abdullahi Usman, who confirmed the incident, said efforts were ongoing to ascertain what transpired between the deceased and the military personnel.
Mr Nwachukwu said the raid was carried out in a joint operation with the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Police and the State Security Service in the conduct of Exercise Golden Dawn II.
The bandits were neutralised on Saturday as the troops continue to push on to clear the North-West of banditry and terrorism.
The army spokesman said the neutralised members had taken a position to launch one of their primed rocket launchers when they were taken out by the vigilant troops.
