Army Crushes Five Notorious Bandit Kingpins in Zamfara, Recovers Heavy Weapons

Troops of the 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have neutralized five notorious bandit kingpins and recovered a massive cache of arms during a high-impact offensive across Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.

The operation, launched at dawn on May 1, 2025, saw troops from Combat Team 6 engage a large, heavily armed group of terrorists who had stormed Mai Kwanugga village, unleashing terror on innocent residents and setting homes ablaze.

The army responded swiftly with a fierce and coordinated counter-attack, killing several insurgents, including top commanders identified as Auta Jijji, Dankali, Sagidi, Kachallah Rijaji, and Kachallah Suza.

Reinforcements from the Brigade Quick Response Force and Special Forces pursued the fleeing terrorists and successfully recovered a formidable cache of weapons, which included four AK-47 rifles, a PKT General Purpose Machine Gun, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, six RPG bombs, 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and 43 rounds of PKT ammunition.

A follow-up operation on May 2, 2025, further strengthened the military’s gains, as local community members voluntarily surrendered additional weapons and confirmed the identities and deaths of the eliminated terrorist leaders.

The cooperation of residents provided critical intelligence that ensured the operation’s success.

Brigadier General Timothy Opurum, Commander of 1 Brigade, praised the troops’ courage and precision, calling their actions a model of “gallantry and professionalism.”

He also commended the patriotic role of the residents, reaffirming the military’s “unwavering resolve to protect lives, safeguard properties, and rid Zamfara State of all criminal elements.”

He urged citizens to remain alert and continue sharing reliable information with security forces.

The Nigerian Army maintains that the fight against terrorism is far from over but affirmed that such victories signify a strong momentum in restoring peace to affected communities.