The firefight, which lasted over two hours, occurred while the heavily armed gang was en route to a forest hideout.
Anotorious bandits leader, Kachalla Yellow Danbokolo and at least 182 of his foot soldiers were killed on Sunday during a fierce gun battle in the Shinkafi Local Government Area.
Danbokolo, a feared warlord and close ally of wanted terrorist kingpin Kachalla Bello Turji, was reportedly ambushed by a joint security team made up of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG), the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and operatives of the Joint Task Force on Sunday.
The firefight, which lasted over two hours, occurred while the heavily armed gang was en route to a forest hideout.
It was gathered that Danbokolo was first shot in the leg during the exchange, forcing him to flee.
He was eventually tracked down by CPG operatives.
Meanwhike, due to massive blood loss, he became immobilised before being captured, beheaded, and dismembered by the vigilantes.
Six other senior bandit commanders were also confirmed dead, alongside dozens of fighters, making this operation one of the deadliest blows to criminal gangs in the region’s recent history.
Danbokolo was widely known across the North West for his ruthlessness and had long been on security watchlists.
His death, residents believe, could significantly weaken the operational strength of Turji’s network and disrupt future attacks in Zamfara and neighboring states.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement, but celebrations reportedly broke out in some communities across Shinkafi following news of the raid.
Locals have lauded the bravery of the vigilantes and urged the government to sustain support for community-based security efforts to finally end years of bloodshed in Zamfara.
Meanwhile, Daily Trust reports that Mustapha Jafaru Kaura, Special Adviser to Governor Dauda Lawal on Broadcast Media, confirmed the death of Kachalla Danbokolo, stating that the notorious bandit was killed in a village in Shinkafi Local Government Area.
“Yes, it’s true, Danbokolo was killed near the Nigeria-Chad border during a joint security operation. I can confirm that Bello Turji has been significantly weakened by this development.
“We are optimistic that Turji will be captured or killed soon. Nigerian troops have already dealt him a major blow, and his days are numbered,” Kaura said.
On June 26, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that two of Zamfara State’s most feared bandit leaders, Kacalla Maijikka and Me Dada, have been eliminated by local vigilantes in a daring operation that has brought relief to terrorised communities.
The operation, carried out by vigilante members in Garagi village, Mayanchi district of Maru Local Government Area, resulted in the death and beheading of Me Dada, a ruthless commander known for leading deadly attacks and kidnappings in the area.
SaharaReporters gathered that the vigilantes ambushed the bandits, following intelligence on their location.
Me Dada, who had long evaded security operatives, was killed on the spot, and his head taken as proof of the successful operation.
SaharaReporters also confirmed the killing of Kacalla Maijikka, a notorious figure feared for his cold-blooded methods.
Maijikka was infamous for kidnapping victims, extorting hefty ransoms from their families, and then killing the hostages despite full payment being made.
Residents of Zamfara have long suffered from the activities of criminal gangs, with many displaced or left grieving due to the continuous cycle of violence.
However, the elimination of these two bandit kingpins is seen as a significant breakthrough in local security efforts.
