Local Shutdown of Internet Foiled Sabotage by Spies: Security Expert
By Steven Kefas
(Gusau), TruthNigeria can confirm that Borno’s Civilian Joint Task Force led the successful elimination of bandit kingpin Kachalla (boss) Yellow Danbokolo alongside more than 170 bandits with Zamfara government backing. The story was first posted by The Middle Belt Times June 30 and confirmed by Sahara Reporters July 1st.
Danbokolo, a feared criminal warlord and close ally of wanted terrorist kingpin Bello Turji, was reportedly ambushed by a joint security team made up of Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG), the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and operatives of the Joint Task Force on Sunday, June 29.
Borno Community Guards Spearhead Cross-Regional Operation
The Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), a formidable local vigilante organization established in 2013 to support Nigerian military operations against Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast, deployed its expertise and volunteer fighters to achieve what conventional military operations had failed to accomplish for years, according to security experts interviewed by TruthNigeria.
Yellow Danbokolo, a feared bandit-terrorist kingpin, had terrorized communities in Shinkafi for years, forcing them to pay taxes before farming their own plots. His elimination brought celebration to the entire local government, a resident of Shinkafi told TruthNigeria.
State Shutdown of Internet: Key to Success
According to a security operative privy to the operations, the Zamfara State government provided unprecedented support, including the strategic shutdown of internet across Kaura, Shinkafi, and Zurmi local government areas to prevent gang leaders from signaling their locations to each other.
“I can tell you that the operation was very successful; the bandits had no idea because of the shutdown of internet in the affected areas. The Zamfara governor obviously means business,” said the state official, who requested anonymity, to TruthNigeria.
Military Intelligence Officers Kept in the Dark
Deliberate exclusion of regular military forces from the operation appears to have been a calculated decision that contributed to its success, according to Dr. Walid Abdullahi, a Birnin Kebbi-based security analyst speaking to TruthNigeria.
“Because the operation was carefully planned without the involvement of the military, it was successful,” Dr. Abdullahi told TruthNigeria. “The success of the operation lends credence to the allegations that there are indeed bad eggs in the military,” he added.
In 2018, a former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General T.Y. Danjuma accused the Nigerian armed forces of colluding with terrorists to kill civilians in the country.
“The armed forces are not neutral; they collude with the armed bandits that kill people, kill Nigerians. They facilitate their movement. They cover them. If you are depending on the armed forces to stop the killings, you will all die one by one.” Danjuma said during an event at the Taraba state university in Jalingo, the state capital.
Governor’s Hardline Stance Vindicated
This revelation comes as Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara continues to demonstrate his administration’s hardline stance against banditry. In February 2025, Lawal reiterated that his government would not negotiate with bandits in Zamfara State, marking a sharp departure from previous governors.
His predecessor, Bello Matawalle, now serving as junior minister for defense, was criticized for what many described as “romanticizing bandits” in the state—an approach that failed to reduce bandit activities and may have inadvertently emboldened them.
‘Shinkafi Model’ Hailed as Game-Changer
The success of the CJTF-led operation has drawn significant attention from security analysts within and outside Nigeria. Diamond Longjel, Secretary of the United Middle Belt Development Forum, described the operation as a watershed moment for Nigeria’s security landscape.
“The Shinkafi Model implemented in Zamfara State represents a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s security landscape, showcasing the transformative potential of community-driven defense initiatives,” Longjel texted from his home in Sacramento, California. “When faced with relentless attacks from criminal elements, the people of Shinkafi demonstrated that organized grassroots movements possess the capacity to effectively protect their ancestral lands and vulnerable populations.”
Constitutional Right to Self-Defense Affirmed
Longjel emphasized the constitutional foundation of such community-based security initiatives, arguing that every community retains the inherent right to safeguard citizens when confronted with existential threats.
“This approach affirms a fundamental principle: every community, under Nigeria’s Constitution, retains the inherent right to safeguard their citizens’ lives, property, and dignity when confronted with existential threats,” he explained. “The success of the Shinkafi Model signals more than tactical victory—it represents the dawn of sustainable peace through local ownership of security challenges.”
Cross-Regional Security Cooperation Demonstrated
The CJTF’s involvement brings a new dimension to discussions about community policing and local security arrangements. Having successfully transitioned from combating Boko Haram in the Northeast to eliminating bandit leadership in the Northwest, the organization demonstrates the potential for cross-regional security cooperation.
The strategic coordination between Borno’s CJTF and Zamfara’s government illustrates how states can leverage existing community-based security structures to address localized threats. The internet shutdown represents innovative tactical thinking that neutralized bandits’ communication advantages, according to Security expert Abdullahi.
Template for National Security Architecture
“As communities across the Middle Belt and beyond grapple with similar security crises, the Shinkafi experience offers a beacon of hope, proving that when people unite with determination and proper coordination, they can reclaim their right to live in peace and prosperity on their own soil,” Longjel concluded.
The operation’s success has broader implications for Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly as communities increasingly seek alternatives to conventional military approaches. The CJTF model, now proven effective across different security challenges, may become a template for other states grappling with similar criminal activities, locals in Zamfara have told TruthNigeria.
With Danbokolo’s elimination continuing to generate celebrations across affected communities, the revelation of CJTF involvement adds credibility to arguments for expanding community-based security initiatives nationwide.
Steven Kefas is the publisher of the Middle Belt Times and a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.
