By Steven Kefas and Segun Onibiyo
(Kaduna) Security experts are calling it a decisive blow to the command- and control structure of the 30,000 radical bandits in Nigeria’s Northwestern region.
Just three days after bandit warlords parleyed in a small group Sept. 17 to elect a new boss of bosses – in the style of Mafia families in the United States, the combined Nigerian Army, Air Force (NAF) and local volunteers pounced. Fanning out in eight different directions, the soldiers ambushed them in their Zamfara hideouts, killing scores of their gang members at the same time. The operation could mark a pivotal moment in the country’s fight against insurgency and organized crime, says security expert, Dr Walid to TruthNigeria.
“The joint operation targeted high-profile bandit leaders, each commanding over 200 fighters, dealing a decisive blow to the organizational structure of these criminal networks,” wrote respected counterterrorism expert, Zagazola Makama in an X post on Friday, September 20, 2024.
According to Zagazola, an expert in tracking and reporting the activities of terrorists in the Lake Chad region, “the eliminated kingpins, known for their reign of terror in the region, include:
1. Kacalla Ɗan Baleri, whose camp was located in Sabon Mashekari, Batauna village, Shinkafi County.
2. Kacalla Dogo Kwaɗɗi, operating near Isa County.
3. Lawalli Dodo, based in Filinga village, Shinkafi County.
4. Kacalla Naguru, also operating from Filinga, Shinkafi County.
5. Kacalla Ɗan-Babirki, whose camp was in Fankama, near Rudunu village, Maradun County.
6. Kacalla Hana-Zuwa, based in Jajjaye, Tubali region, Shinkafi County
7. Kacalla Adamu, operating in Maradun County
8. Kachallah Buzu, also known as Sububu.
The precision strikes not only neutralized these high-value targets but also resulted in the elimination of dozens of their fighters, significantly weakening the bandit groups’ operational capabilities.”
This recent success builds upon previous achievements by the Nigerian military. Just last week, two other prominent kingpins, Kachalla Halilu Sububu and Kachalla Baleri Fakai, were also killed, further dismantling the leadership structure of these criminal organizations. Sububu, regarded as a mentor to the infamous Kachalla Bello Turji, was said to command profound respect among terrorist gangs and had links to jihadists in the Sahel and Lake Chad region.
The operation against the bandits kingpins came barely 72 hours after they converged at the compound of Halilu Sububu to elect a new leader, during which Sububu was felled by a bullet to the forehead.
The successful operation showcases the enhanced capabilities and improved intelligence-gathering of the Nigerian armed forces. The collaboration between the army, air force, and local “vigilante” (volunteer self-defense) groups highlights a more integrated approach to combating insecurity in the region, according to Abdullahi. This sort of coordination was lacking in the eight-year tenure of Muhammadu Buhari, when terrorists operating in the Northwest and other parts of the country held communities for ransom for years.
A security expert based in Birnin-Kebbi,
Dr. Walid Abdullahi emphasized the significance of these operations for both Nigeria and the broader Sahel region. “The elimination of these kingpins is a major victory not just for Nigeria, but for the entire Sahel,” he told TruthNigeria.
“These criminal networks often operate across borders, and their activities have destabilized communities throughout the region. By dismantling their leadership, Nigeria is contributing to the security of the entire West African sub-region.”
The impact of this operation is expected to be far-reaching. Banditry has been a persistent problem in Nigeria’s northwest, leading to widespread displacement, economic disruption, and loss of life. “The neutralization of these key figures is anticipated to create a power vacuum within the bandit groups, potentially leading to infighting and a reduction in their overall effectiveness,” Dr Abdullahi said.
This development represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts. As Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, Nigeria’s stability is crucial for regional security and global economic interests. The success of these operations demonstrates Nigeria’s growing capacity to address its internal security challenges, potentially reducing the need for international intervention, according to Abdullahi.
However, security analysts caution that while this is a major victory, sustained effort will be required to completely eradicate the threat of banditry.
“The challenge now,” Dr. Abdullahi explains, “is to capitalize on this momentum. The military must continue to pressure these groups while the government addresses the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty and lack of economic opportunities in affected regions.”
As news of the operation spread, there is a palpable sense of relief among communities that long have lived under the shadow of banditry. Local leaders in Zamfara State have expressed cautious optimism, with many calling for continued military presence to prevent any resurgence of criminal activities.
Mallam Saleh Shinkafi, a community leader in Filinga told TruthNigeria that it is a bittersweet experience for them. “For us in Filinga, we are both happy and scared, because the bandits over time have shown that they can regroup and come back to attack communities.”
Yet, neither military spokesmen nor security experts have explained publicly why despite multiple victories against bandit kingpins in Zamfara, Niger and Katsina states in the last 12 months, rampant massacres of farming communities in Plateau and Benue states continue unabated. Sources in the Northwest have told TruthNigeria that the ethnic massacres in Northcentral states are linked to bandit gangs in Zamfara. Time will tell whether the removal of top bandit leadership will be noticed in the killing fields of the Northcentral states.
Steven Kefas and Segun Onibiyo are conflict reporters for TruthNigeria.
