A renewed offensive by Nigeria’s security forces has left terrorists and bandits cornered, with key figures either surrendering, being eliminated, or fleeing into permanent hiding. The latest operations have not only neutralized notorious bandit leaders but have also successfully cut off their arms supply chains, making further insurgent activities increasingly impossible.
This is according to a statement released on Thursday by the Initiative to Save Democracy, and signed by its President, Mr Akinloye James.
“One of the most significant breakthroughs occurred earlier this week when troops of Operation Fansan Yanma in Nasarawa Burkullu, Zamfara State, intercepted and eliminated a high-profile arms supplier. The individual, caught attempting to escape with a cache of weapons, was responsible for equipping bandit groups across the North West.
“This crackdown, combined with the arrest of several other arms traffickers, has starved criminal networks of essential resources.
“Meanwhile, some of the most feared bandits in Katsina State have chosen to lay down their arms, unable to withstand the sustained military onslaught. Those who surrendered included Abu Radda, Umar Black, Abdullahi Lankai, Jijjige, and Dabar Musa Dan Gandu, all of whom once wreaked havoc across Batsari, Safana, and Jibia Local Government Areas.”
The group noted that Bello Turji, a notorious bandit had gone into hiding given the onslaught of the Nigerian military.
“Perhaps the clearest sign of Nigeria’s security gains is the disappearance of Bello Turji, the once-boastful bandit leader who regularly taunted authorities with propaganda videos. For over eight months, he has not surfaced—no messages, no threats, no grandstanding. He has been reduced to a fugitive, hiding as security forces close in on him,” Mr. Akinloye James, Chairman of the Initiative to Save Democracy (ISD) stated.
“The same man who once posted videos of himself terrorizing communities is nowhere to be found. The military’s offensive has shattered his operations, and it is only a matter of time before he is either captured or eliminated.”
James praised the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for his strategic leadership and coordination in Nigeria’s fight against banditry.
According to ISD, the turning point in the war against terrorists came under Ribadu’s watch, with better synchronization between intelligence agencies, military forces, and law enforcement units.
“The coordination we see today in the security sector did not exist at this scale before. Under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, there has been a clear direction, ensuring that intelligence is shared, strategies are aligned, and military operations are executed with precision,” James noted.
The numbers paint a compelling picture: over 8,000 terrorists have been neutralized, more than 11,000 arrested, and tens of thousands of weapons recovered. But beyond statistics, the impact is felt on the ground, where communities once held hostage by criminals are slowly regaining peace.
“The North West is no longer a safe haven for bandits. From Zamfara to Katsina to Sokoto, they are being smoked out and neutralized. Just last week, two major bandit commanders, Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu, were taken out by troops of Operation Fansan Yanma under Operation Show No Mercy in Zamfara State. The scale of these operations demonstrates that there is no hiding place left,” James stated.
The group further urged the government to sustain the momentum, ensuring that every last terrorist and bandit is either arrested, eliminated, or forced into submission.
“We commend Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for his decisive coordination of Nigeria’s security forces. His leadership has been pivotal in restoring hope to regions that have long suffered at the hands of criminals. But the work is not yet finished. We urge the government and security agencies to press forward until these bandit networks are completely dismantled,” the statement concluded.