In a bold and well-coordinated operation, tactical operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), supported by personnel from the Nigerian military, successfully neutralized no fewer than 45 armed bandits near Kuchi town in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State. The surprise raid, which took place in the early hours of Monday, June 2, 2025, marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown against violent criminal gangs terrorizing communities in the North-Central region.
According to credible security sources, the operation was carried out with high-level stealth and precision, following actionable intelligence gathered through renewed covert surveillance by the DSS. The intelligence revealed that the notorious bandit leader, Dogo Gide, had mobilized armed fighters from Bilbis Forest in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, as well as from parts of Kaduna State, to carry out coordinated attacks on villages surrounding Kuchi.
The source disclosed that over 100 heavily armed bandits had advanced towards the targeted communities under the cover of darkness. However, their plans were thwarted when DSS operatives and military backup launched a surprise ambush at the outskirts of Kuchi. A fierce gun battle ensued, resulting in the deaths of at least 45 of the assailants. Several others were injured during the exchange, while a number of motorcycles and weapons were recovered from the scene.
Despite the success of the operation, five DSS operatives sustained serious injuries during the firefight and are currently receiving treatment in a medical facility.
“This operation is part of an ongoing and intensified offensive aimed at crippling the activities of bandit kingpin Dogo Gide and his loyalists,” a security source said. “This latest ambush follows a previous operation that led to the elimination of over 50 bandits. The mounting pressure from DSS and military operatives has significantly weakened Gide’s network, leading to the loss of territories he once controlled.”
The source praised the sustained efforts of the DSS and expressed hope that the momentum would be maintained to ensure the safety of residents in Niger and neighboring states.
“These strategies appear fresh and determined to truly rescue our people from the clutches of these criminal elements. We pray this momentum continues,” the source concluded.
