Troops Eliminate Bandit Kingpin in Zamfara as Attacks, Rival Clashes Rock Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina
Nigerian troops have eliminated a notorious bandit leader, Ibrahim Kaboni, and eight of his fighters in a major security breakthrough, even as rival clashes and deadly attacks continue to rock parts of Northwest Nigeria.
Kaboni, a high-profile figure long linked to deadly attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling in Zamfara State, was neutralized during a coordinated ambush by troops of Operation HADARIN DAJI near Keta village in Tsafe Local Government Area on April 16.
The operation, which followed weeks of surveillance, triggered a fierce gun battle as the criminals attempted to flee. Military sources confirmed the recovery of weapons and motorcycles from the scene, while several bandits escaped with bullet wounds.
Elsewhere, bandit violence intensified across Kaduna, Katsina, and Sokoto states. In Kaduna, a bloody clash between rival bandit factions on April 17 in the Galadimawa area of Giwa LGA left several fighters dead. Security operatives have since evacuated the bodies and are monitoring the area to prevent reprisal attacks.
Read Also:
In Katsina State, troops thwarted multiple kidnap attempts in Faskari and Kurfi LGAs on April 17, rescuing five victims and recovering rustled livestock. Two men—Mahammadu Makiyu, 40, and Audu Dawa, 27—were freed after troops repelled a bandit ambush along Marabar Bangori Road near Yankara Village.
Earlier, a woman, Zainab Hassan, 25, her two-year-old daughter, Aisha Abubakar, and another woman, Dahara Abubakar, 20, were rescued following a raid on Wanzamai Village in Kurfi. Six cattle were also recovered in the operation.
Meanwhile, in Sokoto State, suspected Lakurawa bandits attacked Kolajiya Village in Tangaza LGA on the afternoon of April 17, killing a resident, Malam Shehu Dan-Ali, and making away with livestock. The assailants, about 40 in number, stormed the village on motorcycles, shooting indiscriminately. Security forces and local vigilantes are currently combing nearby forests in pursuit of the attackers.
These developments underscore the growing volatility in the Northwest, even as the military sustains offensives aimed at dismantling bandit networks. Authorities have called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, pledging that operations will continue until peace is fully restored to the region.
By PRNigeria
