Nigeria’s security forces have scored a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism and banditry in the North West with the elimination of Kachalla Yellow Danbokolo, a notorious field commander under the Turji-led terror network, during a decisive joint operation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and HYBRID Forces.
The operation, conducted on June 23 in the Chida general area of Fakai District, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, also saw the neutralisation of at least 25 fighters and the destruction of multiple terrorist camps in a methodical, high-impact sweep of the area.
Danbokolo, who led the defence of the enclave, attempted to repel the advancing operatives by launching a fierce ambush. During the intense firefight, he sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen and lower chest.
Despite a hasty evacuation by his fighters to Kamarawa village in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Danbokolo died of his injuries on June 26.
His death, confirmed through intercepted communications and corroborated by local informants, is seen as a turning point in the fight against insurgency across Zamfara and neighbouring states.
“This is not just another kill; this is the removal of a key node in the Turji network’s operational structure. Turji doesn’t lead attacks himself; Danbokolo was his executioner. Now, communities can finally breathe,” a local source told Zagazola Makama.
For over five years, Danbokolo ruled forest enclaves across Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina like a warlord, imposing illegal taxes on farmers and killing those who resisted. His deep knowledge of the terrain, forest routes, and logistics supply lines made him central to attacks on civilian and military targets.
“Removing him from the battlefield is akin to taking the engine out of a moving truck,” a Sokoto-based security expert explained.
Despite the mission’s success, it came at a cost. A counter-ambush led by Turji, who mobilised over 100 fighters, resulted in the deaths of 13 operatives, including 10 HYBRID Forces members and three private collaborators such as former militant leader Bashir Maniya and two of his lieutenants. Twenty-three others sustained injuries of varying degrees during the encounter.
Widespread celebrations have been reported across communities in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina following the news of Danbokolo’s death, with locals expressing relief over the dismantling of a major pillar in the Turji network.
While the DSS has not issued a formal statement in line with its tradition of operational discretion, senior security sources have described the mission as a “major operational success” expected to temporarily weaken the Turji faction’s cohesion and operational capability in the region.
Danbokolo’s death is seen not only as symbolic but strategically significant in the ongoing efforts to restore security across Nigeria’s troubled North West.
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