A joint military initiative in north-west Nigeria resulted in the death of bandit kingpin Gwaska Dankarami and 100 associates, marking a crucial step in combating the security crisis affecting the region.
Major Blow to Banditry in Nigeria as Kingpin and Followers Eliminated
Major Blow to Banditry in Nigeria as Kingpin and Followers Eliminated
A notorious bandit leader and his supporters are killed in a military operation, raising hopes for security in north-west Nigeria.
In a significant military operation in north-west Nigeria, authorities have confirmed the death of notorious bandit leader Gwaska Dankarami along with 100 of his suspected followers. Dankarami was a prominent target accused of being the second-in-command to a leader affiliated with Islamic State. The operation took place in the Munumu Forest, where additional criminal hideouts were also dismantled on Friday.
This development follows a recent attack in which bandits kidnapped 43 villagers and slain four others in Maigora, a village located in Katsina State. The police had mobilized security forces to track down the kidnappers promptly. Notably, this is not the first report of Dankarami's demise; the Nigerian Airforce previously claimed to have killed him during a similar operation in 2022.
Katsina's commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Nasir Mua'zu, remarked that this successful mission represents a major milestone in combating banditry, emphasizing its significant impact on dismantling the networks that terrorized communities across the region.
In their operations, security forces also recovered and destroyed two machine guns and several homemade shotguns. A separate initiative a day earlier resulted in the elimination of six bandits, including one commander, while others fled with injuries; seven motorcycles were intercepted as well. The governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, reaffirmed the government's commitment to eradicating criminal activity and ensuring comprehensive surveillance of forest areas to enhance community safety. These military operations are part of a larger strategy aimed at restoring peace and stability to Katsina and the broader north-western region of Nigeria, which continues to face episodic banditry threats.
