Troops kill bandit leaders in Katsina, Zamfara

Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed two top bandit leaders and some of their foot soldiers in different operations in Katsina and Zamfara States.

The Defence Headquarters said in a statement on Monday that troops of the Operation Fansan Yanma killed a notorious bandit kingpin, Yusuf Gwamna, during a fierce encounter in the Dutsin-Ma area of Katsina on Sunday night.

The DHQ added that several other terrorists were killed in the operation.

The statement read: “Gwamna had long been a high-profile criminal, responsible for multiple attacks, kidnappings, and other violent crimes across Katsina and neighboring states.

“His reign of terror had instilled fear among local communities, making his elimination a major victory in the fight against banditry.

“In a separate operation, troops conducting clearance operations in Zamfara State neutralized a notorious bandit leader known as ‘Yellow Aboki’, a close ally of the late terror kingpin, Hassan Bamamu.

READ ALSO: NDLEA arrests gunrunners smuggling weapons to bandits in Zamfara

“Yellow Aboki was eliminated in an encounter with the troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA in the North West of Tsafe LGA.

“His demise comes a weeks after the military’s successful operation that led to the elimination of Hassan Dantawaye also known as Bamamu, a feared bandit commander who was one of his closest associate.

“Yellow Aboki had been consolidating his control over criminal activities in Zamfara following the death of Hassan Nabamamu.

“He was believed to have been operating within the areas of Bamamu, Dan Mali, Agamalafiya, and Makera, where he coordinated violent attacks and kidnappings.

“The military has sustained its crackdown on bandit kingpins in identified enclaves in Zamfara, Sokoto and other troubled areas in the North-West.

“The sustained pressure has diminished the capacity of the bandits to confront the troops instead, they had resorted to pockets of attacks within vulnerable communities with less security coverage.”

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