The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Christopher Musa, has confirmed the killing of two notorious terrorist kingpins, Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu, in Zamfara State.
He made the disclosure at the closing ceremony of CDS Joint Task Force Commanders Conference at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
Gen. Musa said the successful operation has left wanted terrorists leader Bello Turji in disarray, desperately seeking escape routes as pressure mounts.
According to him, troops under the ongoing Operation “Show No Mercy” eliminated the two notorious bandit leaders, Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu, along with four of their foot soldiers in Ruwan Dawa village in Maru local government area of Zamfara State.
He said 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.
He noted that the troops engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, neutralizing six armed criminals and recovering three motorcycles and several firearms.
Kachalla Gwammade, a key terror commander, operated from a base in Chabi village, northeast of Maru Local Government Area of the state.
He was also a relative of the late Kachalla Sani Black, a notorious warlord recently eliminated in ongoing military operations.
The successful operation was coming amidst intensified onslaught against terrorists in the North West of Zamfara State.
Speaking further on the successes of the conference with the theme “ Enhancing Jointness Across All Theaters of Operation”, the CDS noted that the past three days have been filled with engaging discussions, insightful presentations, amiable perspectives and invaluable knowledge.
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 evolvement of practical measures to strengthen collaboration and cooperation amongst the armed forces and other security agencies in the defence of our great nation.
“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 Staffs. Sirs, your interventions, advises and guidance have been noted and will surely be imbibed in our ongoing and future endeavours.
“It is important to emphasize that the strength of our Joint Task Forces lies in our ability to operate as a cohesive and integrated force. 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 others strengths, we can maximize our collective impact and achieve our shared objectives.”
Gen. Musa charged commanders to carry forward the lessons learned, and the resolutions at the conference.
“Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to defending our nation and protecting our people.
“The challenges ahead maybe daunting, but I am confident that with our collective resolve and determination, we will overcome them,” he said.
