Dozens of armed bandits were killed in a military operation spanning two days in a forest near a community called Gadar Zaima in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Daily Trust Saturday has learnt from residents.
The successful operation that led to the recovery of more than 100 motorcycles and about 600 cows sparked jubilation across communities in Bukkuyum and Gummi local government areas.
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Waves of brutal assaults and mass abductions have hit communities in the two local government areas in recent weeks.
Dozens of people have been killed and several villages sacked following the deadly raids largely being perpetrated by a bandits’ kingpin called Buzu.
Residents told our correspondent that troops intercepted a gang of armed men moving with large herds of cattle.
“The bandits were moving from a community called Zugun Kebbe, located near the border with Sokoto State through a forest called Dajin Danmarke when a heavy gunfight broke out.
“Dozens of armed men were killed and their bodies left at the scene of the fight, just 1km off the Anka- aki Takwas-Gummi- Zuru road. Some of the armed criminals were neutralised when they came back to pick up the bodies of their colleagues.
“I have counted more than 60 recovered motorbikes. Truckloads of the recovered motorcycles and herds of cattle were spotted moving to Gummi town as residents waved and hailed the military.
“People rushing to the scene of the fight to have a glimpse of the slain bandits were warned to stay away as fear is being nursed that the armed men might reinforce and return,” a resident identified as Usman said.
The spokesman of Operation Hadarin Daji, Captain Ibrahim Yahaya, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.
In a related development, security forces neutralised a notorious bandits’ commander known as ‘Dogo Maikasuwa’ at Gengere-Kaso, general area around the Chikun and Kajuru boundaries of Kaduna State.
Daily Trust Saturday reports that the kingpin, who is also known as ‘Dogo Maimillion’ had led a series of attacks and kidnapping of citizens plying the Kaduna-Kachia road and in communities within Chikun and Kajuru local government areas of the state.
It was leant that the notorious bandit, in the company of his foot soldiers, ran into an ambush laid by the troops in a forest, which led to his death.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement issued yesterday, noted that Dogo Maimillion was one of the deadliest bandits leading other elements to terrorise residents of these areas.
Aruwan disclosed that intelligence sources revealed that the kingpin was always dressed in green camouflage military fatigue and wielding AK47 rifle.
“Such was his appearance during the duel with security forces, which ultimately consumed him. It was also gleaned that he led his bandits to engage in operations with cruelty, often killing kidnapped victims when ransoms were delayed or considered meager,” the commissioner stated.
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