By Nkechi Eze
In a significant victory for Nigeria’s ongoing counterterrorism campaign, troops of Operation FASAN YAMA have neutralized one of the most feared terrorist leaders in the North-West, Yellow Danbokkolo. According to an official signed statement issued by Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, the terrorist kingpin succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during a fierce gun battle with troops in Eastern Sokoto,
Maj. Gen. Kangye further disclosed that the coordinated operation, which was carried out last week, involved troops of Operation FASAN YAMA working in conjunction with Hybrid Forces, supported by Air Components and other security agencies. The operation targeted known bandits and fleeing terrorists in the region.
Danbokkolo, who had long terrorized communities in Eastern Sokoto and parts of Zamfara State, was critically injured during the exchange of fire and reportedly died on Monday, July 1, from the wounds he sustained.
Military sources described Yellow Danbokkolo as one of the deadliest and most brutal terrorist figures in the region, considered even more feared than Bello Turji. He was allegedly responsible for orchestrating the gruesome December 2021 massacre in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where passengers aboard a vehicle convoy were burned alive in an attack that shocked the nation.
The military further disclosed that Danbokkolo was known to depend heavily on narcotics, particularly pentazocine, to fuel his violent operations and maintain his grip of terror.
Troops of Operation FASAN YAMA have hailed the operation as a major breakthrough and are now intensifying their manhunt for other high-profile targets, including the elusive Bello Turji, who is believed to be in hiding.
Reaffirming the military’s commitment to national security, Major General Kangye urged Nigerians to continue cooperating with security agencies. “The Armed Forces of Nigeria is committed to restoring normalcy in all parts of the country and calls for the cooperation of all Nigerians in this drive,” he said.
The death of Yellow Danbokkolo marks a major blow to terrorist networks in the North-West, as the Armed Forces sustain pressure to dismantle criminal strongholds and protect vulnerable communities.
