News Editor
By Our Correspondent
A notorious armed bandit kingpin, Gwaska Dankarami, other followers have been reportedly killed in a joint military operation in north-west part of the country.
According to authorities, Gwaska Dankarami is a high-value target who reportedly served as second-in-command to an Islamic State-linked leader.
Report gathered by TMSnews also alleged the gang leader had been hiding in the Munumu Forest, with authorities reporting that several other criminal hideouts were also destroyed across the state on Friday.
His apparent death comes after bandits kidnapped 43 villagers and killed four others in a deadly attack on a village called Maigora in the northern Katsina State last week.
The police had said that it deployed security forces in pursuit of the kidnappers.
The Katsina State commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Nasir Mua’zu, is quoted to have said the killing of Gwaska was a significant milestone in the fight against banditry in the state.
“It is expedient to state that this successful mission has significantly disrupted the criminal networks that have long terrorized communities across Faskari, Kankara, Bakori, Malumfashi, and Kafur,” Mua’zu added.
Security forces reported that they also recovered and destroyed two machine guns and locally fabricated shotguns.
In a separate operation on Thursday, security forces reportedly killed six bandits, including their commander, while several other bandits escaped with bullet wounds.
Seven motorcycles were also intercepted and recovered during the intelligence-led operation.
Katsina, the home state of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, has witnessed sporadic attacks by bandits and kidnappers that have claimed many lives.
The state governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has expressed the government’s determination to eliminate criminals and ensure every forest is thoroughly monitored to protect residents.
The authorities said that the operations are part of a broader effort to restore stability in the state and the northwest region of Nigeria, which has witnessed repeated banditry.
