In a major counter-terrorism breakthrough, troops of 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have eliminated several notorious bandit kingpins and recovered a substantial cache of arms in a decisive operation across Zamfara State.
According to Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, 1 Brigade Nigerian Army Captain Suleiman Omale, the carefully coordinated offensive, targeting terrorist enclaves in Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas, reinforces the Army’s sustained commitment to dismantling criminal strongholds and restoring security to affected communities.
At dawn on 1 May 2025, troops of Combat Team 6, while on a fighting patrol, engaged a large group of heavily armed terrorists who had attacked Mai Kwanugga village, Talata Mafara LGA. The assailants, who had terrorized civilians and razed homes, were decisively overpowered in a fierce firefight. Among those neutralized were five high-profile bandit leaders — Auta Jijji, Dankali, Sagidi, Kachallah Rijaji, and Kachallah Suza.
Reinforcements from the Brigade Quick Response Force and Special Forces pursued the fleeing terrorists, culminating in the recovery of a formidable arsenal, including:
- 4 AK-47 rifles
- 1 PKT General Purpose Machine Gun
- 2 Rocket-Propelled Grenade launchers
- 6 Rocket-Propelled Grenade bombs
- 28 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition
- 43 PKT ammunition rounds
A follow-up operation on 2 May 2025 saw community members voluntarily surrender additional weapons and provide intelligence confirming the identities and deaths of the neutralized commanders.
Commending the troops, Commander 1 Brigade, Brigadier General Timothy Opurum, praised their courage and professionalism, while acknowledging the vital support of local residents. He reaffirmed the military’s resolve to safeguard lives and property and urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue to share actionable intelligence with security forces.
