In a coordinated and stealth offensive, tactical operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), backed by the Nigerian Military, neutralised approximately 45 armed bandits on Monday, June 2, near Kuchi town in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
Security sources confirmed that the pre-emptive operation foiled a planned large-scale invasion by notorious bandit leader Dogo Gide and his loyalists.
According to intelligence reports, the DSS had been trailing the movement of the attackers with “clear precision” and struck before they could carry out their mission.
“In the early hours of Monday, 2nd June 2025, bandits from Kaduna and Zamfara States, numbering about 100, heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, advanced towards Kuchi town in Munya LGA,” one source disclosed.
“But operatives launched a surprise attack and waylaid the bandits in the outskirts of Kuchi town before they could start a fight.
“The operatives also engaged the fleeing dissidents in a gun duel, leading to the elimination of many of the bandits and the infliction of serious injury to many others and the recovery of several motorcycles and ammunition.
“However, five of the DSS operatives sustained severe injuries and are currently hospitalised, according to the source.
“This ambush, which is part of a sustained offensive against the bandits, followed the earlier decimation of over 50 bandits, has dealt a heavy blow on Dogo Gide, who in the past months has been losing huge territories to the superior firepower and covert disruptions by operatives deployed to these troubled spots.
” I can tell you that serious heat has now been turned on the malevolent elements and we hope such pressure will be sustained. We pray that these efforts, by the SSS that appear quite new and aimed at saving our communities from the bandits, will continue,” the security source said, but declined to elaborate on details.
According to the DSS, the neutralised bandits had reportedly been mobilised from Bilbis forest in Maru LGA of Zamfara State, and parts of Kaduna, following an invitation from Gide to launch coordinated attacks on villages in the Kuchi axis.
“This success, which comes just after the dislodgement of several bandits by operatives of the agency in the same LGA, will bring relief to the local communities,” a local official said, applauding the security forces for their continued efforts to restore safety in the region.
The DSS and Nigerian Military are yet to release an official statement, but the intelligence community has described the raid as “a major tactical and psychological blow” to insurgent forces operating in the region.
