They have carved out their areas of operation across six states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger and most recently Kebbi.
They ransack villages, attack security agencies and facilities, block highways, massacre civilians, abduct for ransom, rustle cattle and most recently downed a fighter jet.
In 39 local government areas in the affected states, each bandit leader maintains a “territory” or “kingdom” where they carry out their activities; most times unchallenged. They levy villagers to allow farm and harvest, graze animals or take their produce to local markets.
These terror gang leaders are known not only by their “subdued citizens” but also security agencies and state governments. Some of them had participated in phantom “negotiations” with state authorities.
Among such top bandit leaders are Dogo Gide, Turji, Yellow, Sani Jalingo aka Baderi, Yelbi, Abu Radde, Dogo Nabajallah and Adamu Aliero, Ali Kachallah.
KADUNA
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE found out that in Kaduna State, Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Giwa and Igabi local government areas are noted to be under bandits’ grip.
Although it is difficult to point a name as the gang leader operating in Birinin Gwari, one name stands, Dogo Gide, for terrorising villages bordering Birnin Gwari, Giwa and parts of Chikun LGAs.
Gide whose mother resides in Kurebe, a border village of Niger State, also operates around villages in Zamfara, Katsina and Niger through the Kumuku Forest.
He became popular when he killed Buharin Daji (a notorious cattle rustling kingpin) and associates in Zamfara State in 2018 over a disagreement.
Another notorious leader is the man identified as Jack Bros aka Yellow who also operates around Chikun, Giwa and Birnin Gwari LGAs. He controls large herds of rustled cows in the forests.
Chikun borders Birnin Gwari and Kajuru LGAs, and it was learnt that Yellow and Gide control the areas.
Sani Jalingo aka Baderi operates around the suburbs of Kajuru, Kachia and Chikun.
Baderi claimed responsibility for the abduction and killing of three Greenfield University students in April, 2021, but it is yet to be confirmed if he was behind the abduction of 121 Baptist High School students on June 5, 2021.
Also in Kaduna State, Yelbi operates around Igabi and Giwa, although locals say he is not as ruthless and influential as the others.
SOKOTO
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that across communities in Sabon Birini, Tangaza, Illela, Wurno, Isa, Goronyo, Rabah, Gudu and Kebbe LGAs, Turji’s name sends shivers down the spines of locals in the eastern part of Sokoto State.
Turji is said to have declined effort by the state government to bring him to the negotiation table.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE learnt that, initially there were two groups of bandits terrorising the zone, each belonging to Halilu and Turji camps.
It was said that while the Halilu group accepted the peace deal offered by the state government, that of Turji turned down the gesture. Turji’s group later split into smaller groups following unresolved feud among its members which was said to have led to the deaths of many of them.
Sokoto’s Commissioner for Security Matters, retired Colonel Garba Moyi, who confirmed this to our reporter, said after the feud some of them ran to Sabon Birni forest, some to Gundumi, Anka and Bakura forests from where they are launching attacks on citizens.
KATSINA
In Katsina State, bandit kingpins are holding sway in the 10 frontline LGAs: Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Dutsin Ma, Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume and Kurfi.
In the Safana, Danmusa and Batsari axis close to the Rugu Forest, the kingpin calling the shots is 26-year-old Abu Radde. He is said to have been born and raised in a settlement under Safana.
Radde is said to be ruthless and hates publicity. He was the first to accuse his estranged leaders of accepting the Katsina State amnesty programme and therefore led his loyalists to form his own gang. He has more than 500 members, mostly young men of between 20 and 30.
A source in Safana said Radde was mostly known for rustling.
Like Radde, Dogo Nabajallah used to be in charge of Sabuwa, Dandume and Funtua LGAs until he was killed a few weeks ago in a rival gang war over a woman. After his death the duo of Basuge and Dauji assumed leadership of his “kingdom”.
A security expert in the state who pleaded anonymity said, “Basuge is the one perpetrating violence in the axis. He was said to have recently procured a container of ammunition for his activities.
“Dauji, who lives in Dungun Mu’azu in Dandume also leads over 500 bandits and he mostly strikes in the night.”
For the Jibia and Batsari axis, the notorious Zamfara bandit, Dan Karami, is the one calling the shots. He is said to own a mansion in a village in Zurmi (Zamfara) where he retreats to with his boys after perpetrating violence.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE gathered that in the early days of Gov Bello Matawalle’s administration in Zamfara, Dan Karami temporarily relocated to Gurbin Baure in Jibia LGA where he continued his activities. He also carried out operations in communities under Batsari LGA, especially those near Rugu Forest.
Aside Dan Karimi, another kingpin, Dangote also operates in part ofJibia like Magamar Jibia, Kukar Babangida and other villages on the border with Niger Republic.
Though security agencies said Dangote was killed in a gun duel a year ago, his boys still carry out attacks in his name even though a source in the Miyetti Allah Association in the state said the group has not nominated another leader.
“May be it’s true that Dangote is still alive because no one has seen his corpse as the group has not nominated any leader since his alleged demise,” he noted.
In Faskari local government area, Adamu Aliero is said to be in control. Those who know him said Aliero is ruthless and drives pleasure in killing people. He is also said to operate in Tsafe local government area in Zamfara state.
In June last year, Aliero led his boys to attack five villages under Faskari in one day. The Police put the casualty figure at 20 but local said 50 people lost their lives. The State Police Command placed a bounty of N5 million on his head but Aleiro is still carrying out his operations in the area.
ZAMFARA
Zamfara has been the epicenter of bandits operations until the activities expanded to neighboring states in what security experts believed was the struggle for territorial expansion and control by leaders ensued.
Local government areas such as Maradun, Gusau, Zurmi, Maru,Anka Tsafe and Bakura are the stronghold.
The State is the headquarters to notable leaders such Dogo Gide, Turji, Dan Karami, Adamu Aliero, Damana and otters.
Gide operated from Mary, Turji, Shinkafi; Dan Karami; Zume; Aleiro, Tsafe and Damana, Maradun. They raided and extended control to other locations.
Ali Kachallah, for instance, took banditry to the higher level when he shot down a Nigerian Air Force Alpha fighter jet in Zamfara forest. Apart from that, this bandit carved a niche for himself in destroying heavy military hardware like armored tanks, among others.
His domain is Kuyanbana forest were he coordinates his terror operations.
NIGER
In Niger State, Shiroro, Rafi and Munya local government areas which are close to Kamuku Forest stretching from Birini Gwari in Kaduna State into Zamfara are designated as red zones, but lately bandits have maintained a significant presence in Mashegu LGA also.
Leaders such as Jack Bros aka Yellow, Baderi and Radde expanded their tentacles to Rafi, Munya and Shiroro from Kaduna State. Munya is just few kilometres away from Birini Gwari in Kaduna State. Birnin Gwari also shares borders with Shiroro, Rafi, Wushishi and Mashegu. The bandits also raided other LGAs such as Kontagora, Bosso, Paiko and others.
He allegedly demanded N3 million from some communities to stop banditry in the areas but was short-changed by other gang leaders.
In May, 2021, soldiers claimed to have arrested Yellow in a forest between Shiroro and Rafi.
KEBBI
Until early this year, Kebbi had been peaceful despite sharing borders with Zamfara and Niger states.
However, the attack and abduction of staff and students of the Federal Government College (FGC), Yauri, in June, jolted the country.
It was learnt that bandits operate in Danko-Wasagu, Sakaba and Fakai local government areas of the state.
Their commanders and foot soldiers raid the state from neighbouring Zamfara and Niger states.
