Troops from 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, launched a major counter-terrorism offensive in Zamfara State on May 1. The operation targeted Talata Mafara and Kaura Namoda Local Government Areas. At dawn, Combat Team 6 engaged a large terrorist group in Mai Kwanugga village, Talata Mafara LGA.
The attackers had assaulted civilians and set homes on fire before the troops arrived. Troops opened fire in a fierce battle and neutralized several insurgents on the spot. Among the dead were five notorious bandit leaders: Auta Jijji, Dankali, Sagidi, Kachallah Rijaji, and Kachallah Suza.
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Reinforcements and Weapons Recovered
Immediately after the firefight, reinforcements from the Brigade Quick Response Force pursued the fleeing terrorists.
Brigade Special Forces joined the chase and secured a large cache of weapons. Troops recovered four AK-47 rifles and a PKT General Purpose Machine Gun.
They also seized two RPG launchers and six RPG bombs during the sweep.
In total, they collected 28 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo and 43 rounds of PKT ammunition.
The following day, troops launched a follow-up exploitation mission across the area. During this phase, local villagers handed over more recovered weapons voluntarily. They also confirmed the identities of the slain terrorist commanders with accurate intelligence. These contributions helped validate the operation’s success and dismantled major terror cells.
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Civilians Boost Military Success
Significantly, the operation benefited from local community support and credible real-time reporting.
Residents gave early warnings and helped guide troop movements. The military responded quickly due to this vital civilian cooperation.
Brigadier General Timothy Opurum praised both the troops and the community for their efforts. He commended the soldiers’ courage, skill, and quick execution of the mission.
Additionally, he thanked citizens for their patriotism and trust in the military. He urged them to remain alert and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
The army pledged to continue rooting out terrorists from Zamfara and other flashpoints. Officials emphasized that peace will return only through consistent vigilance and military pressure.
This operation marks a major win in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria’s northwest. Military officials plan to extend similar crackdowns to other high-risk regions soon.
