Kidnapper Allied with ISIS Insurgents in Western Kaduna Forest Refuge
By Mike Odeh James
(Kaduna) Civilian Guards in Kaduna State played a key role assisting the Nigerian army to take down one of Nigeria’s most dreaded terrorists on Wednesday Feb. 21, TruthNigeria has learned.
Terrorist kingpin Boderi Isiyaku was ambushed by Nigerian Army in the village of Damba, 12 miles west of Kaduna city and 10 miles south of Bukuru on the A125 highway. Another terror kingpin called “ Bodejo” and linked to Boderi’s gang was eliminated, too. The two were returning from a bloody killing in Niger State where they had rustled a herd of cattle, civilian guards told Truth Nigeria.
Niger State citizen guards, often called “vigilantes” in Nigeria, tracked Boderi from Alawa, a town in Niger State to Damba in Kaduna. They coordinated closely, tracking Boderi’s movement while informing the Nigerian Army until l he was killed in a firefight in Damba.
“The [Nigerian] troops on Wednesday night, came in contact with Boderi and his fighters around Damba [Bada] general area of Chikun County. Despite the terrorists’ well-fortified position, the troops laid a successful ambush,” according to a press release on Thursday signed by Samuel Aruwan
Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State.
“In the ensuing confrontation, Boderi chose to resist the troops and engaged them in a fierce firefight. He was ultimately subdued, and his reign of terror ended in a burst of bullets and eternal ignominy,” according to the press release. “Two of his associates were likewise neutralized. After the operation, the troops recovered two AK47 rifles, 300 rounds of ammunition, nine AK47 magazines, one magazine carrier, one Baofeng radio set and five motorcycles.”
The General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Nigerian Army (and Force Commander, Operation Whirl Punch) Major General VU Okoro, coordinated and led the operation that eventually ended the life of the terrorist,” Aruwan’s press release stated.
Civilian Guards in Western Kaduna Stepped in
“He was returning from Alawa village in Niger State where he had killed several people and rustled their livestock on Wednesday morning,” said Hassan Kuyello, a prominent member of the Birnin Gwari civilian guards to TruthNigeria.
“However, members of that community communicated with us via phone and we in turn, informed men of the Nigerian Army that were stationed in Damba close to Bada.
“The men of the Nigerian Army waited for him till 10 pm, and as he drew close to Damba junction, his vehicle was greeted with a hail of gunfire,” Kuyello said. He died on the spot while some of his men on bikes were also killed,” Kuyello said.
The Secretary General of Birnin Gwari Association For Democracy and Security, Mallam Ayaba Abdullahi explained further how the notorious kingpin met his death
“About three or four days ago, Boderi wreaked havoc in a village called Alawa in Niger State, and he was trailed by the locals of that village till he got to Kaduna,” Abdullahi said.
“Those trailing him then called residents of Damba informing them that Boderi was headed towards their community. Subsequently, the vigilante group told the Army about his movement, so they trailed him till he got to a junction in Damba,” Abdullahi added.
Boderi Masterminded Student Body Kidnappings
By all accounts Boderi left a trail of brutality. His gang captured whole college student bodies and held them without shelter for months at a time in the pestilence infested forests.
According to Aruwan’s press release:
“It was Boderi who plotted and executed the March 11, 2021 abduction of 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Igabi LGA. This high-profile kidnapping generated shock waves and massive panic around the country, as dozens of young students were whisked away, and their families left to deal with unimaginable turmoil.
“On the 24th of August 2021, Boderi masterminded another deadly attack, this time on the Afaka campus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Igabi County. Two officers were killed and another abducted. Weeks later, on 14th September 2021, Boderi led his gang of bandits in the kidnapping of the Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Atto, around Dutse village, Chikun County. The Emir’s Police Detail was killed,” according to the press statement.
“He was the one that kidnapped the Federal Government Girls College students in Yauri in 2021. Boderi directed all the attacks in Kajuru and Igabi counties in 2024. He is also personally raped his female victims,” Abdullahi said to TruthNigeria.
Boderi , Dogo Gide Brought Boko Haram Faction To Birnin Gwari
Boderi alongside Dogo Gide brought Ansaru, an Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group to the forest reserves of Western Kaduna and neighboring Niger State, according to Abdullahi.
“Dogo Gide later left Ansaru because of major differences with the group. However, his lieutenant, Boderi, choose to remain with the group and with the help of ISWAP (Islamic State of West Africa), Boderi became the kingpin in charge of Eastern Birnin Gwari communities such as old Kuyello, Saulawa, Dogon Dawa, and Kazagi.
“As for Gide, since he was shot and seriously wounded last year, he retreated to a place called Mashigi in the Kamuku National park in which encompasses Kaduna, Niger and Zamfara. However, he left one of his lieutenants, Dan Lukwuti, in charge of Western Gwari communities such as Bugai, Randagi, Kakangi , Kusherki and Gobirawa. Gide remains inactive,” Abdullahi said.
“Before his death, Boderi had become the most notorious kingpin, surpassing Gide, and the late Ali Kachalla.”
Mike Odeh James is a conflict Reporter based on Kaduna, where he covers crime and terrorism for TruthNigeria.
