Notorious Northwest Bandit Leader Sani Yellow Killed

July 13, () — A notorious Northwest bandit leader, Kachalla Sani Yellow, has been killed during a gun battle with a combined team of hunters and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The killing of Sani Yellow, regarded as one of the most feared bandit commanders operating in Zamfara and the wider North-West, came as troops of Operation Hadin Kai arrested a 48-year-old Chadian woman allegedly transporting illicit drugs, alcoholic beverages and other prohibited substances to Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in Borno State.

reports that the separate operations represent fresh gains in ongoing military and security efforts to dismantle bandit and terrorist networks across Nigeria’s northern region.

Security sources said Sani Yellow was killed while attempting to repel an offensive launched against his camp by the local security volunteers supporting conventional security agencies in the fight against banditry.

For years, the slain kingpin had been linked to deadly attacks, kidnappings, cattle rustling and other violent crimes across Anka, Bukkuyum and Maru Local Government Areas of Zamfara State. His criminal operations also extended to other parts of the North-West, where he was considered one of the region’s most influential bandit commanders.

Confirming the development, the Zamfara State Police Command, through its spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the command, in collaboration with sister security agencies, remains committed to eliminating banditry and restoring lasting peace across the state.

Abubakar said ongoing joint security operations would continue until criminal groups are completely dismantled.

In a separate counter-terrorism operation, troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, arrested a Chadian national, Mrs. Rachael Samuel, over her alleged role in supplying logistics to Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists operating in the Lake Chad Basin.

The Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed in a statement that the 48-year-old suspect was intercepted on Thursday, July 9, following credible intelligence.

According to Goni, troops stopped a suspicious vehicle along the Maiduguri-Monguno highway while it was heading towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

He identified the suspect as a native of Kelo in Chari-Baguirmi Province of Chad.

Items recovered from the vehicle included a large consignment of illicit drugs, alcoholic beverages and other prohibited substances.

Preliminary investigations, Goni said, indicated that the consignment was destined for terrorist camps in the Lake Chad Islands, a major operational enclave for Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters spanning Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

He described the arrest as another major breakthrough in efforts to dismantle the logistics network sustaining terrorist operations in the North-East.

“The successful interception represents another breakthrough in ongoing efforts to cut off the supply chain supporting terrorist activities in the Lake Chad Basin”, Goni said.

He added that investigations are continuing to identify other members of the cross-border supply network and bring them to justice.