In a significant military operation, Nigerian authorities have reportedly killed bandit kingpin Gwaska Dankarami and over 100 of his suspected followers, disrupting major criminal networks in a region plagued by violence and insecurity.
Major Victory as Nigerian Forces Eliminate Bandit Kingpin and Followers
Major Victory as Nigerian Forces Eliminate Bandit Kingpin and Followers
Joint military efforts in north-west Nigeria result in the death of notorious bandit leader and his crew, with efforts to combat rising crime intensifying.
A notorious bandit leader, Gwaska Dankarami, alongside 100 of his followers, has reportedly been killed in a coordinated military operation in north-west Nigeria, according to local authorities. Dankarami, identified as a crucial figure within a network tied to the Islamic State, had been operating primarily from the Munumu Forest, where various criminal hideouts were also destroyed during the operation conducted on Friday.
This strike comes on the heels of a violent incident earlier in the week, wherein bandits kidnapped 43 villagers and murdered four others in a raid on Maigora village in Katsina State. In response, police strategized to deploy additional security forces to pursue the perpetrators, shedding light on the ongoing security challenges in the region.
Interestingly, this marks not the first report of Dankarami's death, as he was previously declared killed by the Nigerian Airforce in 2022 under similar circumstances. Nasir Mua'zu, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs in Katsina State, described this latest operation as a landmark achievement in the fight against banditry, emphasizing its impact on disrupting the sustained terror that has plagued communities in Faskari, Kankara, Bakori, Malumfashi, and Kafur.
During the operation, security forces also seized and destroyed two machine guns alongside locally made shotguns. Earlier on Thursday, an additional operation by security forces led to the demise of six bandits, including their commander, while several managed to flee with injuries. Seven motorcycles utilized by the bandits were intercepted as part of this intelligence-led mission.
Katsina State, the birthplace of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has faced increasing attacks from bandits and kidnappers, resulting in numerous casualties and distress among locals. The state governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has vocally assured the public of the government's commitment to purging the region of criminal elements and ensuring comprehensive monitoring of forest areas to guard against further threats to residents.
These military operations form part of a broader initiative aimed at reinstating stability to both Katsina State and the wider north-west region, which has been recurrently beset by alarming incidents of banditry and violent crime.
