By Sumaila Ogbaje
Troops have neutralised a notorious bandit commander identified as Alti, who allegedly terrorised communities along the Gusau–Funtua road and surrounding areas in North-West Nigeria.
A credible source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Alti was killed during a recent military operation, dealing a significant blow to criminal networks operating across Zamfara, Katsina and parts of Sokoto states.
According to the source, Alti had emerged as one of the prominent commanders among armed bandit groups in the region, reportedly operating from locations stretching from southern Gusau to areas around Jibiya and Funtua.
From these locations, his group allegedly carried out kidnappings, ambushes and attacks along major highways in the area.
The source said Alti was known among bandit groups for his involvement in coordinating ransom collections from several kidnapping operations.
He was also said to have appeared in online videos displaying weapons and issuing threats.
Security analysts said his elimination could disrupt kidnapping networks operating along the Zamfara–Katsina corridor and weaken groups linked to him.
They noted that sustained security operations remain important in efforts to curb criminal activities and enhance safety in the North-West region.
Residents in the affected areas have experienced repeated incidents of abduction in recent years, making ongoing security operations critical to improving safety along key routes and communities. (NAN)
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi
