DHQ: Troops Capture Notorious Bandit ‘Mai Pankshin’ With 13 Gang Members

The Nigerian military says it has arrested a wanted bandit leader, Adamu Buba, popularly known as ‘Mai Pankshin’, along with 13 gang members.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed the arrest on Friday, saying the group was behind several deadly attacks and other crimes in Plateau and Kaduna States.

Major General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, explained that troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) carried out the coordinated raids on terrorist camps and criminal hideouts in parts of Plateau State—Riyom, Barkin Ladi, Jos South, Bassa, and Jos North—as well as Jaba and Zangon Kataf in Kaduna.

During the operation, troops recovered guns, ammunition, and motorcycles from the suspects. Interrogations are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, on August 17, 2025, the Commander of OPSH, Major General Foluso Oyinlola, handed over 220 different weapons and 1,874 rounds of ammunition seized from criminals to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Jos, Plateau State.

Between August 13 and 20, Nigerian troops launched a series of operations across different parts of the country under various task forces.

In the North Central and North West regions, troops of Operation Whirl Stroke carried out raids in Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, and even the Bwari Area Council of the FCT, where they neutralized terrorists, arrested suspects including a gunrunner, and rescued kidnapped victims.

In the North East, under Operation Hadin Kai, ground and air offensives were launched in Borno and Yobe States, targeting Boko Haram and ISWAP strongholds in Monguno, Gwoza, Konduga, Damboa, and Bama.

The military reported that several terrorists were killed, nine collaborators were arrested, and three kidnapped victims were rescued.

They also recovered weapons, ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), motorcycles, and cash amounting to ₦191,700.

Also, in the North West, under Operation Fagge Yamma, troops recorded further successes in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto States. Security forces killed terrorists, rescued 46 kidnapped victims, and arrested 11 suspects.