Troops of the 1 Brigade Nigerian Army have recorded a major victory against terrorism and banditry in Zamfara State, neutralizing several notorious bandit leaders and recovering a large cache of weapons during an operation in Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda local government areas.
The operation, led by Combat Team 6 in the early hours of May 1, 2025, saw troops engage a group of armed terrorists in Mai Kwanugga village. The criminals had earlier attacked locals and set houses on fire before the soldiers arrived.
A fierce gun battle ensued, resulting in the death of several terrorists, including five known bandit leaders: Auta Jijji, Dankali, Sagidi, Kachallah Rijaji, and Kachallah Suza.
Reinforcements from the Quick Response Force and Special Forces pursued the fleeing terrorists and recovered arms that included: 4 AK-47 rifles 1 PKT Machine Gun 2 RPG tubes 6 RPG bombs 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo 43 rounds of PKT ammo.
During follow-up operations on May 2, locals handed over more weapons and confirmed the identities of the killed bandit leaders. Sadly, two civilians were hit by stray bullets during the encounter.
Authorities say efforts to clear the area of remaining threats are ongoing.
In a separate development, troops of Combat Team 2, alongside other security agencies, responded to a protest by the residents of Dayau village, Kaura Namoda LGA. Residents blocked a major road with burning tires over recent bandit attacks.
The troops peacefully dispersed the crowd and reopened the road. Calm has since returned to the area.
Brigadier General Timothy Opurum, Commander of 1 Brigade, praised the troops for their bravery and professionalism. He assured the public of the Army’s commitment to restoring peace in Zamfara and urged citizens to continue sharing useful information with security agencies instead of taking the law into their own hands.
