The military onslaught against none State actors has yielded another positive result as the Nigerian Air Force successfully eliminated the most notorious bandit leader, in Zamfara state, Kachallah Damina including scores of his fighters.
Damina and his men were taken out by the Air Force in Zamfara State following information received about a large number of bandits attempting to attack Corner Village in Bungudu LGA on March 10, 2024. Damina, who was already battling with injuries, after clashes with troops of Operation Hadarin Dajia in Dansadau, was neutralized in company of scores of bandits on motorcycles.
Quoting a source, Zagazola Makama, reports that out of the 58 motorcycles carrying bandits and heading for mission, only 11 fighters returned, many of them without their fighters. “More than 50 bandits were neutralized with several motorcycles destroyed. This attack was the biggest and one of the most devastating against the bandit groups in this area in recent times.
“The armed forces are hunting down prominent terrorist leaders and engaging them wherever they are hiding”, the sources said. Zagazola further stated that Damina was an indigene of Kankara LGA in Zamfara State and has wreaked havoc in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States.
He was known for his savagery and for committing heartless attacks and gruesome killings. In one instance, Damina removed a child from a pregnant woman and killed it. And once he captures his victims, it is either the ransom was paid at the time he requested, or they got killed.
He operated a big camp in Magami forest in a place known as Kango under the command of Buharin Daji and Nagala. The killing of Damina has diminished the confidence of bandit groups forcing most of them to go into hiding.
Damina got his inspiration from the likes of Shehu Rekep, and Alhaji Lawali Dumbulu, who started banditry in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi states with their camps around the Galadimawa forest. These two bandits leaders are known for deploying mercenaries from Mali and Burkina Faso to engage in Mining and abduction.
