Northern Nigeria especially North-West has become increasingly violent. This is due to the activities of militias, known locally as “bandits.”
The origins of the conflict in north-western Nigeria can be traced back to 2011 following disagreements between Hausa farmers and Fulani pastoralists.
Banditry in the northwestern states of Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina has reached an alarming position in recent years. They terrorise villages with impunity.
However, in what can only be described as a resounding victory for peace and security, the relentless efforts of the Nigerian military and other security operatives have continued to yield remarkable results in the war against banditry.
The ranks of notorious criminal elements have been significantly deflated, with over 20 top bandit leaders and their foot soldiers sent to the great beyond within the space of two years of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu took mantle of leadership from Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.
Here’s a list of 20 notorious bandit leaders killed under Tinubu in Zamfara, others by military airstrikes and ground operations.
1. Ali Kachalla/Ƙawaje
On December 16, the Defence Headquarters announced the killing of Ali Alhaji Alheri, popularly called Kachalla Ali Kawaje.
According to the military, Kachalla Kawaje, was responsible responsible for the abduction of the students of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara.
It added that Kachalla was neutralised in Munya Local Government Area of Niger along with many of his foot soldiers.
2. Kachallah Dogo Kwaddi
Kachalla Dogo Isah, one of the most notorious bandit leaders in Kaduna State, was killed in a violent confrontation with a group of repentant bandits in Kachia Forest on January 7, 2025.
The clash occurred when Isah’s group attempted to steal cattle from a camp led by Kachalla Musa, a former bandit leader who recently joined a government-backed peace initiative.
The situation escalated into a gun battle, leading to the deaths of Dogo Isah and two of his men.
3. Halilu Sububu
Halilu, commonly referred to as Halilu of Sububu, Kachalla Halilu, Halilu Buzu or Halilu Tubali was killed on 12 September 2024,
The Nigerian Air Force said a notorious terrorist kingpin, Halilu Sububu has been killed by its special forces.
One of his audacious attacks was on a military base in Katsina in 2021 where many soldiers were killed.
Although based in Zamfara, Sububu terrorises communities in Sokoto, Niger, and Kaduna States.
5. Lawali Dodo
Lawali Dodo, who was one of Halilu Sububu’s lieutenant was killed alongside his boss.
6. Boderi
Boderi Isyaku, was killed in February 2024 during a military onslaught by troops of the One Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army.
He was killed alongside his fighters in a gun battle with troops around Bada and Riwaya general areas of Chikun and Igabi local government areas of the Kaduna state.
Boderi, as he was simply known, had for nearly a decade, propagated a reign of fear, death, and destruction in Kaduna and neighbouring Niger State, with a trademark of brutal attacks, mass abductions, and cruel, relentless killings.
He was involved in a range of deadly attacks spanning Sabon Birni, Rigasa, Buruku, Gwagwada, Rijana and Kateri general areas, the Kaduna-Abuja Road, the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road, as well as Shiroro, Alawa, and Mangoro general areas of neighbouring Niger State.
7. Sani Wala-birki
In September 2024, Sani Wala Burki, a notorious terrorist leader responsible for terrorizing the Safana and Batsari Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Katsina State was announced to have be neutralised in a joint operation by local vigilantes and the Katsina Community Watch Corps (CWC).
Burki was killed alonside several members of his gang killed.
8. Kacalla Hana-Zuwa,
Kachalla Hana Zuwa who held terrorist camps from Gidan Rijiya to Indiru, deep within Sububu Forest is also among bandits leader killed late 2024.
9. Damina
Earlier, in March 2024, the Nigerian military killed an outlaw, Damina. Damina was said to have masterminded high-profile attacks and a series of kidnappings in the north-east.
Damina, whose death was wrongly reported in 2022, was killed after he sustained gunshot wounds during a bandits encounter with troops of the Nigerian Army in Zamfara.
10. Kachalla Sani Dangote
In April 2024, the notorious bandits’ kingpin commonly called Dangote was killed in a gun battle with Kachalla Dankarami’s camp along the Dumbunrun forest between Batsari and Jibia local government areas of Katsina state.
Dangote was killed alongside his two siblings namely Lama Na Balewa and Usman Yellow during the fight that reportedly broke out between the two camps.
11. Kachalla Adamu
Kachalla Adamu was a dangerous bandit leader in Nigeria’s Northwest (Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna). He kidnapped people, stole cattle, and attacked villages for years before soldiers killed him early 2024 during a military airstrike in Zurmi forest, Zamfara.
He had allied with other notorious bandits like Bello Turji and Dogo Gide for large-scale attacks. The neutralised bandit leader was responsible for the abduction of 50 villagers in Maru LGA of Zamfara and reportedly source funds for his criminal operations through gold mining in Zamfara’s forests.
12. Modi Modi
In May, terror leader, Usman Modi Modi, popularly called ‘Kartakwa’, was killed alongside four others in a fierce clash with a rival group in Katsina.
Sources gave the identity of Modi Modi’s lieutenants consumed in the clash as Mankare, Gunki Ummadau, Dogo Jabi Birinya Bayan Dutsin of Kurfi local government area (LGA), and Harisu Babba Yauni of Safana local government area.
13. Kachalla Mai Shayi
Kachalla Mai Shayi was killed in September 2024 alongside twelve of his men when gang members of the late Kachalla Nagala launched a deadly ambush on them between the villages of Buroyi and Buzaya, near Sangerawa in Bini district, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The ambush was said to be part of a revenge attacks among rival bandit factions in the forested areas of Zamfara. The feud began after Kachalla Yellow Mai Bille killed Kachalla Nagala, sparking ongoing violence among the gangs.
He was a key lieutenant of the notorious bandit leader Kachalla Yellow Mai Balli Balli.
14. Kachalla Tsoho Lulu
Kachalla Tsoho Lulu, was killed by fellow bandit Kachalla Gajere.
The incident occurred on Sept 26, 2024, near the village of Kawaye, located in the forests of Bagega within Anka Local Government Area, Zamfara State, over the dispute on mining activities in the area.
Kachalla Tsoho Lulu was notorious for orchestrating violent attacks across the Dan Kurmi region, affecting communities in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
His raids also extended to areas from Dan Ummaru to Bena in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, leaving a trail of destruction.
15. Ibrahim Nagure
Troops from Operation Hadarin Daji killed bandit leader, Ibrahim Nagure in September 2024, following the neutralisation of Halilu Sububu.
16. Kachalla Makore
Also, towards the end of September 2024, Nigerian security forces killed notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Makore, along with several of his fighters.
Makore and his men were reportedly en route to recover the body of fellow bandit leader Kachalla Sani Black, who had been killed earlier in the Dan Sadau area of Maru Local Government Area when they were killed.
Kachalla Makore rose to power after the death of his predecessor, Kachalla Damuna, and was known for his criminal operations around Kangon Garacci village in the Dan Gulbi area, also within Maru Local Government Area
17. Bulak
Bulak was a feared name across Zamfara’s villages – a bandit leader who turned forests into killing fields and highways into traps. Unlike the infamous warlords who sought fame, Bulak operated in the shadows, striking suddenly and vanishing into the rugged terrain.
The military finally cornered Bulak in 2023 during a night raid on his Dansadau forest camp. Villagers reported hearing explosions for hours before dawn. By sunrise, the army announced they’d “permanently silenced” the terror that haunted five local governments.
18. Tukur Sharme
Notorious bandit commander Kachalla Tukur Sharme and a number of his men were been killed in a major military operation in Kaduna State in September 2024.
Sharme was described as a ruthless criminal responsible for countless murders, kidnappings, and cattle rustling in Kaduna and neighbouring states.
He was a prime target for security forces, having narrowly evaded capture on multiple occasions.
One of Sharme’s most infamous crimes was the kidnapping of 121 students from Bethel Baptist High School in Kujama, Kaduna State, in 2021.
19. Hassan Dantawaye
Hassan Dantawaye, also known as “Na’bamamu”, was killed in Febraury 2025, by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) after he attempted to escape and disarm a soldier while being transported to Gusau town, Zamfara State.
Nabamamu had long been one of the most feared bandit leaders in Zamfara, orchestrating mass kidnappings, extortions, and deadly attacks on civilians and security forces. He was a known associate of other notorious warlords and reportedly controlled over 100 heavily armed fighters.
Over the years, his gang was responsible for countless attacks on villages along the Gusau-Tsafe highway, including targeted assaults on communities such as Makera, Chediya, Agama Lafiya, Singawa, Yalwa, and Rekebu. He was also linked to the imposition of illegal taxes on communities in Tsafe LGA, forcing residents to pay huge sums under the threat of death.
20. Dan-Isuhu
On March 27, 2024, Isuhu Madele, aka Dan Isuhu, was killed in an ambush by a rival gang loyal to Dogo Gide.
Dan Isuhu had terrorised Tsafe and neighboring communities, Dansadau, Sabuwa and some parts of Gusau in Zamfara State as well as Faskari, Kankara and Funtua in Katsina State.
Meanwhile, while these victories mark progress, bandit crisis in the Northwest, Nigeria is said to demand sustained efforts to dismantle terror networks completely.
