A major blow has been dealt to the banditry network in Katsina State, following the elimination of a feared bandit warlord, Gwaska, and more than 100 of his armed men during a joint offensive by the Nigerian Army and Air Force.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama made this known in a Twitter post, revealing that the operation took place on April 10 in various locations across Kankara and Faskari Local Government Areas.
Troops from the Nigerian Army’s 17th Brigade and 213 Forward Operating Base, backed by air power from the Nigerian Air Force, stormed multiple hideouts in Mununu Bakai, Zango, Jeka Arera, Malali, and Ruwan Godiya.
Dr Nasir Mua’zu, Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Friday.
According to him, the military acted on actionable intelligence and successfully neutralized Gwaska, who was regarded as the deputy commander to a prominent ISWAP-affiliated leader.
“Before the raid, Gwaska had reportedly moved from Danmusa to Mununu forest, possibly to regroup,” Mua’zu said, noting that the troops also seized and destroyed heavy arms, including machine guns and homemade shotguns.
The commissioner emphasized that the operation has significantly disrupted the activities of criminals who had previously terrorized areas like Faskari, Kankara, Bakori, Malumfashi, and Kafur.