Military troops neutralise over 30 bandits in Zamfara
It has been reported that over 30 bandits have been neutralized by the security operatives in Zamfara State, including two wanted bandits’ kingpins, Kachalla Illiya Sarki and Dogo.
Security sources said that the confrontation began late Saturday evening when the bandits attacked members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), popularly known as “Yan Maiduguri”, in Kunchin Kalgo Village, Tsafe Local Government Area of the State.
According to the report, a joint security team swiftly mobilized reinforced to support the embattled CJTF operatives, leading to Operation fire for fire.
“We overpowered them due to superior firepower and pursued them into Munhaye forest, where over 30 bandits were neutralized,” a security operative added.
The source described one of the most wanted bandits kingpins in the north-west, as having killed several high-profile figures.
Others included Dogo Sule and Iliya Mai Rasha, who had recently assumed leadership following the death of another commander.
He said that the son of wanted bandits’ leader, Ado Allero, was said to have mobilized hundreds of fighters on motorcycles in an attempt to repel the advancing troops.
Following the raid, Ado Allero reportedly fled and is believed to been in hiding as troops continue pursuit operations in the area.
According to him, he had been linked to multiple kidnappings, cattle rustling and violent attacks across the region.
He was previously arrested in Katsina State, but was later released under controversial circumstances after the reported abduction of senior police officers.
Local sources confirmed that more than 10 CJTF members lost their lives during the clash, while several others remain unaccounted for, revealing the ongoing risks faced by local vigilante groups supporting formal security forces.
Security sources have warned that the killing of Sarki and other senior commanders could trigger retaliatory attacks, with concerns that fleeing fighters may regroup to carry out reprisals.
CJTF engage bandits at Kungurki village, Kaura Namoda. In a related incident on Sunday afternoon, CJTF operatives engaged bandits in Kungurki Village, Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, noting that two bandits were reportedly killed in the clash, with one of them beheaded.
The Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Ahmad Muhammad Bello, confirmed the development, stating that special forces had been deployed to restore calm, with normalcy returning to the area.
Zamfara State has endured over a decade of violent attacks by armed groups, resulting in widespread loss of life, destruction of property worth billions of naira, and the payment of huge ransoms.
It has been reported that the security operations have recorded periodic successes, residents continue to express concern over the persistence of the crisis, urging authorities to adopt more decisive and lasting measures to end the insecurity situation in the area.
