I don’t want to be remembered for my many fights — Obaseki

Northern Nigeria especially North-West has become increasingly violent. This is due to the activities of militias, known locally as “bandits.”

The origins of the conflict in north-western Nigeria can be traced back to 2011 following disagreements between Hausa farmers and Fulani pastoralists.

Banditry in the northwestern states of Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina has reached an alarming position in recent years. They terrorise villages with impunity.

So far, security agencies have continued to launch onslaughts on terrorist and bandit activities in the north.

Similarly, the country’s military jets have carried out several air strikes in bandits enclaves.

In May, the Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru noted that the synergy among the Service Chiefs and sister agencies led to the killing of over 9,300 bandits and insurgents, while 7000 had since been arrested in the last year.

Recently, the Nigerian Army killed a notorious bandit leader and arms supplier, Kachalla Halilu Sububu, in a major operation against bandits in the northwest.

Sububu, a key figure in the region’s banditry, operated a large mining site in Dan-Kamfani, Anka Local Government Area, and owned thousands of cattle in the infamous Sububu Forest.

Also, many bandits are on the Army’s wanted list for various involvement in criminal activities.

Here’s a full list of some of the bandits’ leaders who have been killed as confirmed by the military:

1. Halilu Sububu

2. Buhari Alhaji Halidu otherwise known as “Buharin Yadi” – He unleashed terror on citizens in Kidandan/Galadimawa general areas of Giwa LGA, Sabon Birni/Kerawa general areas of Igabi LGA, other locations in nearby Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State, and indeed some parts of Niger and Zamfara states.

3. A kingpin commonly called Dangote was killed in a gun battle with Kachalla Dankarami’s camp along the Dumbunrun Forest between Batsari and Jibia local government areas of Katsina State.

4. Boderi Isyaku – A notorious bandit leader, responsible for the kidnapping of 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation and the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna in 2021.

5. Kachalla Dan Chaki

6. Dogo Gudali

7. Dogo Rabe – He was killed in an Air Force strike during an operation to flush out terrorists operating in communities between the Zurmi and Birnin Magaji areas in Zamfara State, and Jibia in Katsina State.

8. Alhaji Auta and Kachalla Ruga – They were killed alongside many of their gang members in a raid on their enclaves at Gusami Forest and Tsamre village in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

9. Rufai Maikaji – He was a deadly bandit who commanded over a hundred fighters in the state.

10. Ya’u – He was killed in an ambush by the troops at a strategic crossing point in Burra, Ningi. He was the leader of the gang which is notorious for using heavy weaponry to instill terror among the residents of Burra and neighbouring communities.

11. Alhaji Karki – He was killed while attempting to overrun a military unit in Niger State. Karki, who once repented but later went back to criminality, had been terrorizing Niger communities and was responsible for killings, arsons and kidnappings in the areas.

12. Bandit leader “Yellow” – He was operating several bandit camps in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina states, but was killed following Nigerian Airforce air strikes in Katsina and Zamfara states. (The Nation)