A major breakthrough in the fight against banditry in Zamfara State has been recorded following the killing of one of the region’s most feared warlords, Kachalla Yellow Danbokolo, along with six of his senior lieutenants. Over 180 of their fighters were also reportedly neutralized in a coordinated ambush by local and federal security forces.
Sources confirmed that the joint operation, which took place in Shinkafi Local Government Area on Sunday, was led by a coalition of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG), Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the military-backed Joint Task Force. The deadly exchange of gunfire lasted more than two hours and took place as the heavily armed gang was navigating through a remote route to their forest base.
During the fierce encounter, Danbokolo was hit in the leg, prompting him to flee. However, he was pursued by members of the CPG who eventually caught up with him. According to local accounts, he collapsed from excessive blood loss and was captured. What followed was a brutal execution, he was beheaded and his remains dismembered by the vigilantes.
This latest offensive is considered one of the most devastating losses suffered by criminal groups operating in the Northwest. Among the dead were several high-ranking commanders who had long been on police wanted lists. Community members say the incident may severely cripple the operations of Bello Turji, another infamous bandit leader and Danbokolo’s close ally.
Although authorities have yet to release a formal statement, celebrations erupted across villages in Shinkafi shortly after word of Danbokolo’s death spread. Residents praised the bravery of the vigilante groups and urged for sustained support for grassroots security operations to prevent a resurgence of violence.
Confirming the development, Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, the Special Adviser on Broadcast Media to Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, told reporters that Danbokolo was eliminated near the Nigeria-Chad border during the joint security mission. He expressed confidence that this development had further weakened Turji’s network.
“This is a big win. With Danbokolo gone, Turji’s influence is crumbling. We believe it’s only a matter of time before he too is captured or eliminated,” Kaura said.
The Sunday operation follows a separate incident earlier reported on June 26, in which two other notorious bandit leaders—Kachalla Maijikka and Me Dada—were killed in Garagi village, located in the Mayanchi district of Maru LGA. Vigilantes, acting on tip-offs, stormed the area and engaged the criminals. Me Dada was killed on the spot, with his severed head recovered as evidence.
Maijikka, who had terrorized locals for years with kidnappings and brutal killings, was also shot dead during the ambush. Both figures had evaded security agencies for months, earning reputations for their ruthlessness, including murdering kidnap victims even after receiving ransom payments.
Residents of Zamfara, long plagued by cycles of violence and displacement, are now hopeful that these recent operations signal a turning point. With some of the region’s deadliest figures eliminated, communities are beginning to see a glimmer of hope for peace and stability.