March 09, (THEWILL) — Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly neutralised Alti, a notorious bandit commander who had terrorised communities along the Gusau–Funtua road and neighbouring areas in North-West Nigeria.
A credible source at the Army Headquarters, speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), confirmed that Alti was killed during a recent military operation, delivering a significant blow to criminal networks operating across Zamfara, Katsina, and parts of Sokoto states.
Despite his youth, Alti had risen to become one of the most influential commanders among armed bandit groups in the region. Intelligence reports indicate he maintained multiple bases stretching from southern Gusau to areas around Jibiya and Funtua, from where his fighters allegedly carried out kidnappings, ambushes, and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks along key highways.
Infamously referred to by his peers as “the money bank” due to his control of ransoms from numerous kidnapping operations, Alti had become a feared figure both on the ground and online, appearing in TikTok videos flaunting weapons and issuing threats.
Security analysts have said that his death could disrupt kidnapping syndicates along the strategic Zamfara–Katsina corridor and weaken cells loyal to him, marking a critical step in the ongoing military campaign to dismantle organised criminal networks in North-West Nigeria.
Residents across the region, who have endured repeated abductions and often paid large ransoms, hailed the development, noting that the elimination of leaders like Alti is crucial to restoring security and confidence in affected communities.
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