Another notorious bandit commander, known as Malam Gwaska, has been eliminated along with over 100 others by the fighting soldiers In Katsina.
The killing of Gwaska followed military operations against criminals in the North-Western state.
According to the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mua’zu, the operations were crucial component of a broader strategy by security stakeholders to reclaim stability in the State and Northwest Region.
He said that during the operations, the forces recovered and subsequently destroyed two machine guns, locally fabricated shotguns, and other weapons to prevent their reuse by criminal elements.
He said that the Nigerian Army’s 17th Brigade and 213 Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Air Component of the Nigerian Air Force on April 10, 2025, executed a coordinated strike on bandit strongholds in Mununu Bakai, Zango, Jeka Arera, Malali, and Ruwan Godiya areas spanning Kankara and Faskari LGAs.
“The precision operation, based on actionable intelligence, eliminated a high-value target identified as Gwaska, who served as second-in-command to an ISWAP-linked leader,” he stated.
“Intelligence reports confirm that Gwaska had recently relocated from Danmusa Local Government to Munumu Forest.
“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 LGAs.”
Similarly, security forces conducted another operation in the early hours of April 10, 2025, targeting bandit routes at Dutsen Wori by Dandume-Kandamba Road, located at the outskirts of Dandume town at the border with Faskari and Sabuwa Local Government Areas.
The operation, executed at about 3:45 am, resulted in the elimination of six bandits, including their commander, while several other bandits escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds.
The forces were said to have successfully intercepted and recovered seven motorcycles, while four others escaped into the forest. The bandits were tracked from their base at Maigora/Doroyi camp in Faskari Local Government Area.
