The 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, led by Brigadier General Timothy Opurum, has reported significant operational achievements in its ongoing battle against terrorism, successfully neutralizing several bandit leaders and recovering weapons in the Talata-Mafara and Kaura-Namoda Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.
In a statement released on Friday, Captain Suleiman Omale, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 1 Brigade, disclosed that troops from Combat Team 6 (CT 6) encountered a large group of armed bandits who had infiltrated Mai Kwanugga village in Talata-Mafara LGA. Prior to the troops’ arrival, the bandits had been conducting attacks on locals and setting houses ablaze.
The statement elaborated, “Upon contact, the troops engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle, successfully neutralizing several terrorists, including five notorious bandit leaders: Auta Jijji, Dankali, Sagidi, Kachallah Rijaji, and Kachallah Suza.”
Reinforcements from the 1 Brigade Quick Response Force (QRF) and the 1 Brigade Special Forces (1 BSF) pursued the fleeing bandits, leading to the recovery of an arsenal of weapons, which included four AK-47 rifles, one PKT machine gun, two RPG tubes, six RPG bombs, 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and 43 rounds of PKT ammunition.
During a post-operation assessment on May 2, 2025, local residents provided additional arms and confirmed further details about the neutralized bandit leaders. Unfortunately, two civilians were inadvertently caught in crossfire from stray bullets during the operation. Authorities are actively monitoring the situation, and efforts to eliminate any remaining threats in the area are ongoing.
In a separate incident on May 1, 2025, Omale reported that troops from Combat Team 2 (CT 2), in collaboration with other security agencies, effectively responded to a protest in Dayau village, Kaura-Namoda LGA. Frustrated by recent bandit attacks, residents had blocked a major supply route by burning tires and obstructing traffic.
Omale noted that the security team executed a peaceful crowd dispersal operation, restoring calm to the area and reopening the road, allowing normal activities to resume.
