CDS confirms killing of two notorious terrorist leaders in Zamfara

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has confirmed the killing of two notorious terrorist kingpins, Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu.

The CDS gave the confirmation at the closing ceremony of the CDS Joint Task Force Commanders Conference on Friday, adding that the duo were neutralised last night.

The Army troops of Operation Fansan Yanma, under the ongoing Operation Show No Mercy, eliminated Gwammade and Shehu, along with four of their fighters in Ruwan Dawa village, Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara State.

Intelligence sources had revealed that the operation was carried out by troops stationed at Hannu Tara camp, located along the Magami–Dan Sadau highway, in collaboration with local vigilantes.

The sources confirmed that the troops engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, neutralising six armed criminals and recovering three motorcycles and several firearms.

Gwammade, identified as a key terror commander, operated from a base in Chabi village, Northeast of Maru LGA.

He was also a relative of the late Kachalla Sani Black, a notorious warlord recently eliminated in ongoing military operations.

The successful operation came amidst an intensified onslaught against terrorists in the Northwest of Zamfara State.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the conference, General Musa noted that the past three days had been filled with engaging discussions, insightful presentations, amiable perspectives, and invaluable knowledge.

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He said, “I therefore wish to express my profound appreciation for your active participation, unwavering commitment, and valuable contributions to this conference. There is no doubt that this event has enabled us to reflect on our collective efforts and the attendant challenges faced in addressing the security situation in our country.

“It has also driven the evolution of practical measures to strengthen collaboration and cooperation amongst the armed forces and other security agencies in the defense of our great nation.”

The theme of the conference was “Enhancing Jointness Across all Theatres of Operation.”

According to General Musa, the theme has been adequately and extensively addressed.

“The insights provided by our distinguished guest speakers brought out pertinent areas on the strategic imperatives of a whole-of-society approach. Furthermore, it gave our field commanders the opportunity to update us all on their operational activities and challenges in their various theatres of operation.

“We were also privileged to listen to the perspectives of former Joint Task Force Commanders, Service Chiefs, and Chiefs of Defence Staff. Sirs, your interventions, advice, and guidance have been noted and will surely be imbibed in our ongoing and future endeavours. It is important to emphasise that the strength of our Joint Task Forces lies in our ability to operate as a cohesive and integrated force.

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Consequently, the collaboration and mutual support demonstrated during this conference must continue to guide our operations in the field.

“Let me also acknowledge the lessons learned during this conference. I am confident that the knowledge gained, the relationships forged, and the ideas generated during these three days will significantly contribute to the effectiveness and success of our joint operations.

“Some of the key takeaways from our discussions have been the importance of unity of effort, resourcefulness, and the need for the political class to show more commitment to addressing our security challenges. Nevertheless, as an armed force, we must foster a culture of cooperation, collaboration, and synergy among our troops. By breaking down barriers, sharing resources, and leveraging each other’s strengths, we can maximize our collective impact and achieve our shared objectives,” he said.