Turji’s ally Danbokolo, six commanders, 182 bandits killed in Zamfara

Kachalla Yellow Danbokolo, a feared bandit leader and close ally of notorious kingpin Bello Turji, has been killed alongside six other commanders and 182 fighters in a major security operation in Zamfara State.

The coordinated offensive, led by the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG) and supported by the military, police, and the Department of State Services (DSS), took place on Sunday in Shinkafi Local Government Area. The operation was based on intelligence that Danbokolo had summoned top commanders to plan fresh attacks on major towns and villages in the region.

Sources told Daily Trust that security operatives ambushed the gang while en route to a forest base. Danbokolo was shot in the leg during the two-hour gun battle and later died after attempts to get medical help failed. Eyewitnesses said his body was dismembered by the operatives after his capture.

“This man was ruthless and responsible for countless deaths and abductions across Zamfara, Sokoto, and even into Niger Republic,” one source said. “His death is a huge relief to the people of this region.”

Another source revealed that Danbokolo’s fighters carried him through several villages in search of treatment, but residents refused to help. His death has reportedly shaken Turji, who is now said to be considering fleeing to Niger or Chad amid sustained military pressure and the recent shutdown of telecommunications services, which has disrupted communication among bandit groups.

“Danbokolo was not just an ally, he was Turji’s backbone. Losing him, along with six other top commanders, has dealt a severe blow to Turji’s network,” a source explained.

According to officials, the operation followed credible intelligence that Danbokolo and his commanders were planning retaliatory attacks after recent losses inflicted on their camps. The military and local security forces acted swiftly, killing many bandits and forcing others to flee.

“Danbokolo was the mastermind behind numerous atrocities, including the killing of Sarkin Gobir Muhammad Bawa and repeated attacks in Sokoto East, Zamfara, and the Shinkafi axis,” another source said. “His terror reign has lasted for years, and communities are finally breathing a sigh of relief.”

Confirming the development, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, Special Adviser to Governor Dauda Lawal on Broadcast Media, said the bandit leader was killed near the Nigeria-Chad border and that Turji’s influence has been significantly weakened.

“Danbokolo’s death marks a turning point. Security forces are closing in on Turji. His days are numbered,” Kaura said.

In recent months, Zamfara State has seen a resurgence of violent attacks by bandits, especially in Shinkafi, Maru, Zurmi, Anka, and Tsafe LGAs. Dozens of residents have been killed, hundreds displaced, and properties destroyed in coordinated raids by heavily armed gangs.

One of the deadliest attacks occurred earlier this month in Tsafe, where over 30 people were killed in a night raid. In Zurmi, several homes were burned and residents abducted, while Shinkafi has also seen a series of violent clashes.

As rural communities remain gripped by fear, many residents have fled their homes, and farmlands lie abandoned—deepening food insecurity across the state.

Security analysts view Danbokolo’s death as a critical blow to the bandit network in northwestern Nigeria, with hopes rising that the region might soon see an end to years of violent insurgency.