Bandits in Sokoto and Zamfara just took a major hit.
Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have killed several bandits, including top kingpins, and dismantled fortified hideouts around Dangulbi and Kurawa villages in Tureta LGA.
The high-ground camps had long served as launch pads for attacks across the Sokoto-Zamfara border.
A security source confirmed the offensive to newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday.
Troops from the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, stormed the camps with support from other security agencies and local vigilantes who know the terrain.
–The battle on the high grounds–
The bandits had chosen Dangulbi and Kurawa for a reason: the high ground gave them a strategic edge over troops and civilians below. That advantage ended in a fierce gun battle.
“Several bandits were neutralised during the encounter,” the source said.
Among the dead were kingpins who coordinated attacks in border communities.
Others fled with gunshot wounds, disappearing into forests that stretch into neighbouring states.
Troops recovered weapons and motorcycles used to strike quickly and escape through the porous border.
The source credited the army’s swift response and professionalism with preventing what could have been a massacre in Tureta LGA.
“The army engaged them in a fierce battle. The bandits later retreated and fled into the forests in neighbouring states,” he added.
Mop-up operations are ongoing to track escapees.
–Praise from Sokoto–
The operation drew quick commendation from stakeholders.
Special Adviser to Governor Ahmad Aliyu on Security Matters, retired Colonel Ahmad Usman, and community leaders hailed the Nigerian Army for the gains.
They expressed hope that sustained pressure on these border enclaves will finally restore lasting peace to an area that has bled for years.
From strategic high ground to smoking ruins — Operation Fansan Yamma just shifted the fight.
