The notorious bandits kingpin, Dogo Gide, who was linked with ANSARU, an Al Qaeda Insurgency active in the Birnin Gwari forest of Kaduna State, and other terrorist organizations is dead, according to Nigerian officials. However, his body has not been seen and his internment has not been documented.
Dogo Gide reportedly died from gunshot wounds during an encounter with the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) in Madada forest in Maru Local Government Area of the state on March 12, 2024.
The terrorist leader, patron of hundreds of hired mercenaries controlling kidnapping in Chikun County (Local Government area) and other parts of Southern Kaduna, reportedly was smuggled into a hospital in Mabera, Sokoto State where his life ended.
Former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad made this known in a post via his official X handle on Wednesday morning.
He wrote: “Woke up to the good news that Dogo Gide, has finally kicked the bucket. The notorious bandits leader died from gunshot wounds sustained during a confrontation with Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) forces.”
Gide was reputed to be among the top terrorists of the 200 or so terrorist gangs operating for years with impunity in the states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Kaduna. He claimed responsibility for spectacular strikes against the government of Muhammadu Buhari, such as downing a military helicopter in the Dansadau-Birnin Gwari area and the abduction of students from Federal Government College Yauri. He reportedly was buried in Dandalla village in March.
Gide’s treatment in the hospital was allegedly facilitated by a security operative currently in custody, raising questions about possible collusion within security ranks, according to Intelregion.
Nigerian Army’s First Division and 8th Division are celebrating a high point of campaigns since late in 2023 in which the army has put maximun pressure on kidnap-for ransom gangs in the Northwestern States, killing several but leaving other bandit gangs mysteriously untouched.
President Bola Tinubu has put the prestige of his office on the line by promising to quell banditry, yet high profile mass kidnappings by the dozen remain unsolved. These include the kidnapping of a bridal party of at least 53 women snatched by bandit kingpin Kachalla Ruga on Feb. 2, although Ruga’s refuge in Yan Tumaki Forest of Katsina State was identified by TruthNigeria. The mass kidnapping of 17 men, women and children in Gonin Gora, Kaduna State on Feb. 28 was not pursued by Nigerian Air Force assets or troops, although sources close to TruthNigeria followed the trekking of the group across the Kaduna River into Niger State by March 1. The Nigerian Army was a nonfactor during the massacres in Plateau State dubbed “Black Christmas” which saw up to 3,000 terrorists sack 33 towns over a 5 day period from Dec. 24, 2023.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
