The Nigerian Army has successfully killed a notorious bandit kingpin and arms supplier, Kachalla Halilu Sububu, in a major operation targeting bandits in northwest Nigeria.
Sububu, who was a central figure in the region’s banditry, operated a large mining site in Dan-Kamfani, Anka Local Government Area, and owned thousands of cattle in the notorious Sububu Forest. He was known for training other dangerous bandits, including Bello Turji, and reportedly possessed sophisticated weapons and operational vehicles in the forest.
Chief of Defence staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa confirmed that Sububu was killed by troops during a visit the governor of Zamfara state, Dauda Lawal
Voice of America reliably gathered that Sububu was killed by the Nigerian Army troops from the 1 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 1 at Balde Village near Kwaren Kirya along the Gusau-Sokoto road in Maru Local Government Area. Acting on credible intelligence about his movements, the troops ambushed and eliminated him along with 37 of his men. A few bandits managed to escape with gunshot wounds.
According to reports, Sububu was en route to the southern part of Zamfara State after attending a ceremony at Bayan Ruwa in Maradun Local Government Area when the military struck. The encounter led to a fierce exchange of gunfire between the army and the bandits.
An eyewitness, Bala Hamisu, described the intensity of the confrontation, stating, “I saw two tires of the military vehicles shot out by the bandits, and one of the soldiers had blood coming from his hand as he emerged from the bush.”
Sububu had long been on the Nigerian Army’s wanted list for his criminal activities in the region.
This success comes less than 24 hours after another group of bandits ambushed and killed three soldiers, four policemen, and abducted several civilians, including a foreign worker with the SETRACO construction company, in Tazame Village, Bungudu Local Government Area.
