It’s Hot Chase And Death For Kaduna Terrorists

By Paul Adams

For many years, the criminals made life hell for Kaduna State residents. If they were not stealing and looting from them, they were kidnapping them for ransom or worse, killing them. It was beginning to seem like the security operatives were helpless and the ordinary people were conscripted to a fate of plunder.

But in recent times, the security operatives have been unleashing hell on the bandits, kidnappers and terrorists. In flypasts, bombs rained on them as they hid or scurried, hails of bullets tore through their wicked flesh just as soldiers forced them into disarray. And today, with operation after operation to chase them out, the faith of the Kaduna people in their government to once again protect them is being renewed. Kudos to Governor Uba Sani.

In fact, so confident of the efforts is the governor that in August, while flagging off a road to link 62 agrarian communities in Birnin Gwari which was a terrorist-infested area, he boasted that the area is now stabilised and safe.

“My presence here to flag off the reconstruction of this 35.6km road marks the beginning of restoration of peace and stability to this long-suffering and troubled local government,” he had said.

All over the state, terrorists continue to have a hard time operating. In August, soldiers deployed for counter-terrorism operations in Kaduna tackled a band of terrorists in Gayam Village, Kampani Doka and Rifigoro communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state. At the end, eight terrorists, including a terrorist leader, were killed while motorcycles, some sophisticated communication devices as well as arms and ammunition were recovered.

“These successful operations, marked by the deletion of key terrorist figures and the seizure of dangerous weapons, is a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability to the region,” said a statement from the Army.

“We call on the public to continue supporting the relentless efforts of our security forces, who are tirelessly working to ensure the safety and security of all citizens.”

Also in August, a team of Special Forces from the Nigerian Air Force, 413 Force Protection Group, killed terrorist kingpin, Mustapha Abdullahi, and his men near the Sabon Gida Forest along Sabon Birni Road in Igabi Local Government Area while engaged in a fight. A statement by the NAF’s spokesperson, Edward Gabkwet, said the team recovered guns, ammunition, and communication devices. It said the operatives vowed to rid the state of criminals.

“Efforts by the troops to rid Igabi, Birnin Gwari and environs of criminals and their activities remain ongoing,” said the NAF statement.

“Troops have also been commended and urged to intensify ongoing efforts to safeguard lives and properties.”

In the same month, Nigerian Army troops on Operation Forest Sanity foiled an invasion of Saulawa General area in Birnni Gwari Local Government Area by scores of terrorists, killing two of them in an ensuing shoot-out. In that incident, the army recovered some arms and ammunition as well as 11 motorcycles.

“The troops in their untiring commitment have continued to deny the terrorists freedom of action and significantly undermined their capabilities,” said the Army in a statement.

“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its determination to protect the nation and its citizens from the scourge of terrorism.”

And as if nemesis was also fighting the bandits themselves, the month of September also saw rival terrorist groups battle each other. A notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Sharme, and several others were killed in the clash at Hambakko, in the Rijana and Kaso Forests, which span Kachia and parts of Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Area. It would be recalled that Sharme led the gang that abducted 121 students from the Bethel Baptist High School, Kujama on July 5, 2021. Speaking on the incident, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said that Sharme’s gang was responsible for other numerous atrocities in Kaduna and neighbouring states and his death is a victory over terrorism.

“After diligent follow-up operations and exploitation of vast human intelligence networks, it can be happily reported that the notorious bandit commander Kachalla Tukur Sharme, and other bandits, have been killed in a fratricidal clash,” Aruwan had said of the terrorist who had escaped capture several times.

“Aside Sharme, two other bandits from a rival group were killed in the fierce gun duel, which also enabled some kidnapped citizens to escape from captivity.”

Also in September, the Kaduna police arrested a gun-running syndicate, Bitrus Gyang, from Barkin Ladi in Plateau State, recovering 20 locally-fabricated AK-47 rifles. During interrogation, Gyang confessed he transported a similar cache thrice in the past.

Insecurity is not a new development in the country. For close to two decades now, it has stayed with us, with each progressive year seemingly becoming worse. The roads, neighbourhoods, workplaces, farms, leisure and religious centres and even schools provided targets. It got so bad that schools became soft targets with students abducted in hundreds by some of these evil gangs.

In Kaduna, we recall how 121 students were abducted from Bethel Baptist School, Kujama in July 2021 and 135 students abducted from the LEA Primary and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga, Chikun LGA in March amongst other incidents. Incidents like these discouraged formal schooling and to forestall such a trend, in February 2024, Governor Uba Sani initiated the Safe-School-Initiative. Under the scheme, the state government merged 359 schools in safe locations and also collaborated with the Nigeria Police to train a Schools Protection Guard. This tied in to the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Financing Plan which was launched in 2022 with N144.8b. Agencies involved are the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria Police, NSCDC, DSS and Defence Headquarters.

But asides schools, the whole society also has to be secured. Hence, the war against terrorism had to be holistic. This has made the Kaduna State government continue partnering with federal security, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, as well as the locals.

Recall that in March, Sani vowed to lead the fight against terrorism after Boderi Isyaku, the bandits’ warlord terrorising Kaduna and Niger states, was killed. It’s nice the governor understands that these criminals require no soft gloves. This was when he met with stakeholders from Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Giwa, Igabi, Kachia, and Kagarko LGAs. The meeting, Sani said, was to assess intelligence and share efforts to take steps to degrade the terrorists.

“We must identify them (informants) decisively,” the governor had said.

“Traditional rulers, religious leaders, local government chairmen, and other stakeholders have key roles to play in assisting security agencies with intelligence.”

He then reiterated that, “all hands must be on deck to root out the bad elements in our communities.”

While the war against terrorism is not anywhere from being over in Kaduna, North-West or the country at large, the examples from Kaduna have shown that it is winnable.

However, winning the war should not be the sole responsibility of the government. In many cases, the bandits and terrorists live in the midst of people who know them. But without the cooperation of everyone, eliminating the evil they perpetrate would be longer and slower.

Adams, a graphic artist, cartoonist and Nollywood actor, wrote from Lagos