By Zagazola Makama
In a decisive and brutal encounter, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, in collaboration with local vigilantes known as Askarawa, successfully crushed a massive retaliatory attack by armed bandits in Mada, Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, eliminating at least 40 terrorists in a fierce battle.
The attack was triggered by the elimination of a notorious bandit leader, Alhaji Sani Dan Garin Bawo, in an earlier military operation. Enraged by the loss of their commander, the bandits—led by another infamous warlord, Dogo Hamza—mobilized hundreds of heavily armed fighters on motorcycles. Intelligence sources revealed that they converged in Manya village, on the outskirts of Mada, before launching their coordinated assault on March 11.
Acting on credible intelligence, troops swiftly took the offensive, storming the outskirts of Mada to intercept the advancing bandits. A ferocious gunfight erupted as the military and vigilantes engaged the insurgents head-on. However, as the battle raged, some bandits managed to breach Mada town, firing indiscriminately in a desperate bid to instill terror.
As the situation escalated, reinforcements from the Nigerian Army arrived in full force, intensifying the assault and preventing the terrorists from burning houses, looting properties, or abducting residents.
Eyewitnesses described the battle as an intense, hours-long confrontation that saw security forces and vigilantes ultimately overpowering the attackers.
“We counted at least 40 bandits killed. Sadly, four civilians lost their lives due to stray bullets,” a source disclosed to Zagazola Makama.
Following the successful operation, troops reinforced their defensive positions in Mada, ensuring no further incursions by terrorist elements.
The killing of Sani Dan Garin Bawo is regarded as a significant breakthrough in the war against banditry. The slain warlord had been a key architect of countless atrocities, including high-profile kidnappings, deadly raids, and cattle rustling across Zamfara and neighboring states.
His death, coupled with the crushing defeat of his vengeful fighters, sends a strong message to criminal networks operating in the region: the era of impunity is over.
PIONEER NEWS 