Troops Record Massive Victory, Eliminate Scores of Bandits Kinpins, Fighters in Zamfara, Recover Weapons
Troops of the Nigerian Army under 1 Brigade have recorded a series of decisive victories in Zamfara State, eliminating no fewer than five notorious bandit kingpins and dozens of their fighters in multiple encounters across Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas, PRNigeria learnt.
The operations, conducted between May 1 and 2, were spearheaded by Counter-Terrorism Teams and reinforced by Quick Response Forces and Special Forces from 1 Battalion. The most significant engagement occurred in the early hours of May 1 at Mai Kwanugga village, Talata Mafara LGA, when troops of Counter-Terrorism Team 6 intercepted armed terrorists on a coordinated raid.
According to intelligence sources who spoke to Zagazola, the assailants—numbering in the hundreds and mounted on motorcycles—stormed the village around 1:30 a.m., firing indiscriminately and torching houses. The ensuing gun battle, described as intense, led to the deaths of several terrorists, including three high-profile commanders: Auta Jijji, Dankali, and Sagidi, all of whom had been on security watchlists for their roles in mass abductions and attacks in the North-West.
Following the battle, troops recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition including four AK-47 rifles, one PKT machine gun, one RPG launcher tube, four RPG bombs, and several rounds of 7.62mm and PKT ammunition. Two civilians were reportedly struck by stray bullets during the mop-up operation, while residents confirmed that some terrorists retrieved their fallen, with others left behind and later dismembered by aggrieved youths.
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In a follow-up operation on May 2, troops returned to the area for further exploitation along the terrorists’ escape route. During the clearance, they recovered additional weapons, including one RPG tube and two RPG bombs. Local sources and military intelligence confirmed the deaths of two more notorious commanders, Kachallah Rijaji and Kachallah Suza, who were among those neutralised during the initial confrontation. Both were infamous for orchestrating violent raids and kidnappings in Zamfara and neighbouring states.
Separately, around 4:00 p.m. on May 1, troops alongside local vigilantes repelled another bandit attack in Maikwanuga village near Jangebe. The firefight resulted in the death of at least ten bandits, including another kingpin, identified as Shalili. Tragically, the District Head of Maikwanuga and one civilian were killed during the confrontation.
In a related development, suspected bandits abducted two individuals in Abare village, Anka LGA, later that evening. The victims were reportedly returning from a ransom payment when they were intercepted and taken to an unknown location.
Meanwhile, troops of Counter-Terrorism Team 2, acting on the directive of 1 Brigade Command, swiftly dispersed a violent protest in Dayau village, Kaura Namoda LGA. The protest, sparked by persistent banditry, saw residents blocking the main supply route with burning tyres. Security forces, including the Army, Police, and Civil Defence Corps, restored order through non-violent crowd control measures.
The Nigerian Army has since intensified clearance operations across the region, with heightened surveillance and patrols to prevent further incursions. Military authorities hailed the elimination of the terror leaders as a significant milestone in the ongoing counterterrorism campaign, urging the public to continue providing credible information to aid security efforts.
By PRNigeria
