SOKOTO, NIGERIA – July 26, 2025 — Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Fansan Yanma have eliminated a notorious bandit kingpin, Dan Dari Biyar, during a clearance operation in the western axis of Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, Biyar was killed on Thursday while attempting to collect ransom payments for abducted victims. The ransom was reportedly delivered to the forest by the victims’ relatives before the troops struck.
Biyar, infamous for his cruelty and his derogatory nickname derived from his statement “I prefer ₦500 to a Hausa man,” was known for his ruthless treatment of hostages. He was believed to operate deep within the Tidibale forest, from where he launched attacks on Lalle, Tsamaye, Gwaronyo, and notably orchestrated the burning of Gidan Sale village along the Gundumi axis.
Makama added that intelligence reports from military sources had linked Biyar to multiple criminal acts including ambushes, arson, and deadly raids across Sokoto East Senatorial Zone.
The operation that led to his death was reportedly executed by a combined force of Nigerian Army personnel and local vigilante volunteers under the Sokoto State Government’s Community Protection Initiative.
Troops recovered assorted weapons during the operation, while several members of Biyar’s gang reportedly fled the scene.
