By Deborah Nnamdi
At least 45 armed bandits were neutralized by Nigerian military forces and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) during a coordinated security operation near Kuchi town in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
The development was disclosed by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst focused on the Lake Chad region, via a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday.
According to Makama, the joint operation, carried out in the early hours of Monday, involved tactical units of the Nigerian Army and DSS. The bandits were reportedly loyal to the notorious terrorist leader Dogo Gide and were en route to carry out coordinated attacks on nearby communities before being intercepted.
Makama, quoting a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the insurgents—estimated to number over 100—had mobilized from Bilbis Forest in Maru LGA of Zamfara State and hideouts in Kaduna State.
The security forces engaged the assailants in a fierce gun battle on the outskirts of Kuchi, successfully eliminating at least 45 of them, while others fled with gunshot wounds.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of several motorcycles, weapons, and ammunition. However, five DSS operatives sustained injuries during the clash and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed medical facility.
