Troops Repel Retaliatory Attack Over Killing of Bandit Leader Alhaji Sani Dan Garin Bawa in Mada, Kill 40 Bandits
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, in collaboration with local vigilantes known as Askarawa, successfully repelled a large-scale retaliatory attack by armed bandits in Mada, Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing at least 40 terrorists.
The attack followed the elimination of a notorious bandit leader, Alhaji Sani Dan Garin Bawo, by security forces in an earlier military operation.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the he bandits, led by a commander identified as Dogo Hamza, mobilized hundreds of fighters on motorcycles, converging in Manya village, on the outskirts of Mada, before launching their assault on March 11.
Alerted to the impending attack, troops swiftly stormed the outskirts of Mada, engaging the heavily armed assailants in a gunfight alongside vigilantes. However, as the firefight intensified, some bandits infiltrated Mada town, firing indiscriminately.
Reinforcements from the Nigerian Army quickly arrived, intensifying the battle and preventing the terrorists from burning houses, looting properties, or abducting residents.
According to an eyewitness, the battle lasted several hours, with security forces and vigilantes overpowering the attackers.
“We counted about 40 bandits killed, but unfortunately, four civilians lost their lives due to stray bullets,” a source told Zagazola
Following the confrontation, troops reinforced their positions in Mada, ensuring no further breach of security.
The killing of Sani Dan Garin Bawo was considered a major victory in the fight against banditry, given his role in orchestrating numerous attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling in the region.
