In what locals are calling a “judgment day for terrorists,” the Nigerian Army has taken out five of Zamfara’s most feared bandit warlords in a surprise pre-dawn assault that left a trail of scorched earth and recovered rocket-propelled weapons.
The operation, led by 1 Brigade’s elite Combat Team 6, struck hard at bandits terrorizing Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda LGAs, after the gunmen launched a brutal attack on Mai Kwanugga village — torching homes and opening fire on residents. But this time, they met their match.
In a fierce gun battle that erupted at first light, troops neutralized scores of attackers, including five notorious kingpins: Auta Jijji, Dankali, Sagidi, Kachallah Rijaji, and Kachallah Suza — names that have long haunted villagers in the region.
Pursuing the retreating criminals, troops recovered a massive arsenal of military-grade weapons, including:
- 2 rocket-propelled grenade launchers
- 6 RPG bombs
- 1 PKT machine gun
- 4 AK-47 rifles
- Over 70 rounds of ammunition
By the next day, local residents handed over more weapons and confirmed that the dreaded commanders were among the dead — finally silencing the guns that had ruled their lives.
Brigadier General Timothy Opurum hailed the operation as a turning point, commending both the troops and the brave villagers who risked their lives to share real-time intelligence.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “We will not rest until Zamfara is free from the grip of terror.”
