By Mike Odeh James (Gusau, Zamfara)
In Kaura Namoda, Zamfara,Nigeria’s troubled Northwest, children play soccer near once-abandoned market stalls, and women shop without fear.
For trader Aisha Mohammed, 26, a newfound sense of peace feels revolutionary. “Two years ago, we couldn’t step outside after sunset. Now, my sons walk to school again,” she tells TruthNigeria.
This fragile peace stems from an unprecedented military campaign under President Bola Tinubu, dismantling terror networks that had turned Nigeria’s NorthWest into a hub for kidnappings, illegal mining, and terrorism.
Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu’s counterinsurgency strategy has eliminated warlords, disrupted trafficking routes, and reclaimed vast territory in the Northwestern states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina.
The Fall of Kachalla Isuhu Yellow: A Turning Point
The campaign’s most symbolic victory came March 28, 2025 with the demise of Kachalla Isuhu Yellow, mastermind of the 2022 Abuja-Kaduna train attack. Yellow had operated across four states, using informants and corrupt officials to evade capture. His downfall began with a military raid on his forest hideout in Zurmi, Zamfara.
“We noticed heightened military activity, with helicopter gunships and drones targeting Yellow,” says retired army officer Saadu Moriki Gambo. A four-day battle ensued, with airstrikes cutting off escape routes and ground troops engaging fiercely.
Outnumbered, Yellow fled, wounded, only to be fatally caught in a clash between rival factions days later. “His death wasn’t just a military win—it was psychological. His elimination exposed these groups’ fragility,” says Moriki. “Relief is gradually returning to traumatized villages on hearing of his demise.
Even before his death, attacks had dropped by 60 percent, and military observers noticed that his faction had turned against the armed gangs of Bello Turji and Dan Karami, leading to constant infighting
Villagers Reclaim Their Lives
In Dansadau, farmers till land they had abandoned since 2020. “We buried our motorcycles to avoid confiscation. Now, we’re digging them up,” says Musa Bello, 58.
However, scars remain. “The military opened the roads, but we’re still healing,” says nurse Hafsat Ibrahim, treating malnourished children in Katsina. dropped by 60%, and his faction, Bello Turji and Dan Karami have disintegrated into infighting.
Villagers Reclaim Their Lives In Dansadau
Farmers till land they had abandoned since 2020. “We buried our motorcycles to avoid confiscation. Now, we’re digging them up,” says Musa Bello, 58. However, scars remain.
“The military opened the roads, but we’re still healing,” says nurse Hafsat Ibrahim, treating malnourished children in Katsina. Tinubu’s strategy merges aerial dominance with grassroots intelligence. Since 2024, Nigeria has acquired advanced Airforce weaponry, allowing a shift to proactive strikes.
General Christopher Musa, a battle-hardened strategist, leads this new approach. M-346 attack jets, T-129 ATAK helicopters, and AI-driven drones track terrorists.
Joint task forces, Operation Hadarin Daji and Operation Fatsan Yanma, have spearheaded successful operations.
“We’re hitting them where it hurts—their logistics,” says David Onyillokwu Idah, Director of the International Human Rights Commission. “Now, drones follow them to their camps, and fighter jets finish the job.”
The numbers underscore this shift: 1,200+ bandits killed since 2023. 400+ hostages rescued without ransom. 90% reduction in highway attacks. High-value targets such as Halilu Sububu, a key arms trafficker, eliminated.
Notable Neutralized Figures
Among the 20 top terror leaders eliminated are:
1. Halilu ‘Buzu’ Sububu
2. Dutse Mainasara Idda
3. Mallam Saleh Umaru
4. Mohammed Amadu
5. Abubakar Musa
6. Adamu Tanko Ibrahim
7. Yellow Dogon Rakumi
8. Isiya Boderi
9. Alhaji Baldu
10. Usman Modi Modi
Vigilantes: Allies or Time Bombs?
The military has armed local vigilantes such as the Yan Sakai group in Zamfara State, aiding troops in navigating difficult terrain. “They know every cave and footpath,” says a soldier. However, human rights groups warn of extrajudicial killings, such as the March 2025 execution of five suspects in Niger State. “Vigilantism is a double-edged sword,” cautions Idah.
The Long Road Ahead
Despite progress, challenges persist. Bandits exploit ungoverned spaces, evidenced by a March 2025 attack in Faskari that displaced 2,000. Corruption remains an issue, with a soldier leaking operation details for a $3,000 bribe in April. “Military gains must be cemented with development,” argues security expert Makama. Tinubu’s $100 million rehabilitation fund aims to rebuild the region, but skepticism remains.
“Promises don’t plant crops,” says Bello. “We need roads, schools, and jobs—not just soldiers.” A Cautious Dawn As troops advance deeper into Rugu Forest, dubbed “Africa’s Bandit University,” cautious optimism grows. “Peace isn’t just about dead bandits,” says Aisha Mohammed. “It’s about believing tomorrow will be better.” The Tinubu administration’s ultimate test lies ahead: transforming tactical victories into lasting stability.
“We’ve won battles,” says Idah. “The war? That’s just beginning.”
Mike Odeh James is a conflict reporter at TruthNigeria.
