Troops of the Nigerian Army have achieved another victory in the ongoing battle against terrorism by eliminating notorious bandit kingpin Baleri Fakai. Fakai was one of 30 bandits neutralized in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Fakai, a close associate and superior to infamous bandit leader Bello Turji, was reported to have been killed days after a video surfaced on TikTok, where he appeared invincible. His death was confirmed by multiple sources, including security analysts, and shared by former presidential aide Bashir Ahmed on social media.
Ahmed posted on X (formerly Twitter), “WONDERFUL: It has been confirmed that joint security forces have eliminated the notorious bandit leader Baleri Fakai, along with 30 other terrorists, in Maru, Zamfara state. Baleri Fakai was a close ally to murderer Bello Turji, who will be joining him soon, in Sha Allah.”
This development brings the total number of eliminated bandit leaders to five within 72 hours. Earlier, troops from Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized four other notorious bandit leaders in Zamfara, including Ibrahim Nagure, Lawali Dodo, Kadiri, and Jambaleri, alongside Halilu Sububu, a major figure behind numerous terrorist activities in the North West.
Additionally, security forces captured another wanted terrorist kingpin, Hosseini Osman, in Ganawuri village, Plateau State. Osman confessed to orchestrating multiple deadly attacks and kidnappings. With his cooperation, troops rescued several kidnapped victims in Kanam Local Government Area.
In another military operation, Boko Haram fighters fleeing from Sambisa Forest toward the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza were ambushed, resulting in significant casualties and the seizure of weapons and ammunition.