Scores of suspected bandits were reportedly neutralized during an ongoing clearance operation conducted by troops of the Nigerian Army in Maikujera town, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
​The military offensive unfolded on Friday, August 28, 2026, as troops deployed Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and heavy military equipment to flush out criminal elements using the region as a transit corridor. Security intelligence indicates that the suspects are allegedly affiliated with the network of the notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji.
The criminal group had reportedly been utilizing the Maikujera axis to transport rustled cattle stolen from Gandi and surrounding communities in Rabah LGA, moving them through the vast Gundumi forest toward hideouts in the Sabon Birni and Isa local government areas.
​During the operation, troops engaged the armed groups in a intense firefight. According to community sources, the suspects attempted to use rustled livestock as human shields, leading to many of the animals being killed or scattered into the forest as the troops gained the upper hand.
Overpowered by superior firepower, several fleeing bandits abandoned their rifles and escaped into nearby farmlands, thick vegetation, and an adjacent hill.
​Confirming the operation, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, confirmed the engagement, describing it as a “hugely successful operation”.
Lt. Col. Osoba noted that mop-up operations were still active along the forest routes and added that a full, comprehensive statement containing detailed figures, recovered weapons, and operational breakdowns would be made public upon the conclusion of the mission.
​The decisive intervention has brought a sense of cautious relief to residents of Maikujera and neighboring communities along the Sokoto–Zamfara border, who have long suffered from recurring attacks, kidnapping, and cattle rustling.
Local leaders have urged security forces to maintain continuous intelligence-led patrols to permanently secure the Gundumi forest corridor and prevent surviving remnants from regrouping.
