Thursday. These troops, the military said, had raided some terrorist camps in Zamfara State in September and terminated Halilu Sububu, a top terrorist commander with a N5 million bounty on his head.
Sububu, also known as Halilu Buzu, was among the 19 terrorist commanders declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters in 2022 with a reward of N5 million on each of them for anyone with useful tips that could lead to their elimination. According to the authorities, the terrorist commander hailed from Sububu village in the Maradun Local Government Area in Zamfara.
The Defence Headquarters listed Sububu among some wanted terrorists for the second time in March 2024, highlighting his notoriety.
“Who are those ones that did the operation today?” Musa asked the troops’ leaders on Thursday in Zamfara. “Who are the soldiers with you? How many? That’s good. I am giving you guys N1 million. Is that clear? You will go and share it; to show you that we appreciate you.”
That gift, if shared equally, amounts to N38,461 ($23.46) per soldier. Given the fact that the military is a regimented and hierarchical organisation, the money could be shared based on seniority among the benefitting soldiers rather than on an equal basis.
“THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE”
Bulama Bukarti, a security expert and fellow at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, has described the gift as unacceptable, urging President Bola Tinubu to offer national awards to the troops. He equally implored Nigerians to donate some money to better appreciate the field soldiers.
“Twenty-six gallant soldiers took down one of the most notorious bandit leaders, Halilu Sububu, in a daring operation, but their reward doesn’t reflect the magnitude of their sacrifice. Join our fundraiser to give them the recognition they truly deserve,” Bukarti said in an X post on Sunday.
“The killing of Halilu Sububu is a monumental breakthrough in Nigeria’s war against terrorism. Sububu was not just any criminal — he was one of the most feared and powerful bandit leaders in the country, controlling vast territories of the Sububu Forest and orchestrating countless kidnappings, killings, and terror attacks.
“His reign of terror stretched for years, and until now, no major bandit or Boko Haram leader had been eliminated in such a decisive manner. His death is a victory every Nigerian should celebrate. But let’s focus on the real heroes of this operation — the 26 brave soldiers who risked everything to rid us of this menace.
“Despite their courage, the Chief of Defence Staff rewarded them with just N1 million, even though the Nigerian Army had placed a N5 million bounty on Sububu’s head in 2022. That breaks down to only N38,000 per soldier. Think about it. These men, who face death every day, were given less than N40,000 for one of the most significant victories in this war. Many of these soldiers earn around N50,000 a month and have families to support, while the bandits they fight are earning millions in ransom payments from every kidnapping.
“This is unacceptable. These gallant men and women deserve more than a token gesture—they deserve our full support. That’s why we are calling on the presidency to honour these soldiers with a National Award and a financial reward that truly reflects the magnitude of their sacrifice. This will not only recognise their bravery but also motivate them and others to pursue the remaining bandit leaders and gangs with renewed zeal.”
Sububu had been leading terrorist attacks on civilians and military forces in the northwest of Nigeria for years, defying efforts to restore peace in the region.
His reported killing, therefore, was significant in the counter-terrorism fight in 2024.
ABOUT SUBUBU
The military believes Sububu was responsible for the murder of 19 officers and the destruction of a security infrastructure 2021.
A Premium Times report stated that Sububu leveraged his ties with terrorist groups in the Sahelian sphere, including Mali, Senegal, Niger and Burkina Faso, to grow his gunrunning business and illegal mining.
Boasting of his reputation as an arms supplier in Nigeria’s northern region, Sububu had once described himself as the “Leader of the terrorists operating on the northern flank” during an interview.
Born of a mother from Niger Republic in 1986, his birth name was Halilu Jammare. His father was an indigene of Jajjaye, a village close to Sububu.
Efforts made to contact the Defence Headquarters for comment had not been successful at press time. FIJ filled out an inquiry form on its website, but the message did not go through.
The same message was forwarded to the Defence Headquarters as a direct message on X without any response as of press time.
