The hosts of Fashin Baki, a weekly Facebook show, have announced a donation of N1.8 million to soldiers who killed notorious bandits kingpin Halilu Sububu.
One of the program hosts, Bulama Bukarti, announced the donation on behalf of his colleagues, Jaafar Jaafar, Nasiru Zango and Abba Hikima, in a post on his X handle on Sunday.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports Mr Sububu and some of his foot soldiers were killed in a joint operations by the armed forces In Kwaren Kirya, Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on Thursday.
In May, the Nigerian Army placed a N5 million naira bounty on the wanted terrorist.
While commending the troops for the success, the chief of defence staff, Chris Musa, rewarded them with N1 million.
But Messrs Jaafar and Bukarti said the reward doesn’t reflect the magnitude of their sacrifice.
Mr Jaafar wrote: “In November 2022, Nigerian military placed N95m bounty on 19 bandit leaders at N5m per head. One of the wanted terrorists was Habibu Sububu, a billionaire bandit, gunrunner and goldminer, who was killed alongside dozens of his fighters by the Nigerian troops a couple of days ago. Sububu was arguably the Bin Laden of banditry in Nigeria. But in appreciation of the troops’ gallantry, the Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa rewarded the 24 soldiers, a captain and a squadron leader that recorded one of the biggest breakthroughs in the fight against banditry with N1m. Now let’s assume the money is shared equally. If you divide N1m by 26, each of them will get N38,461. While appreciating the CDS’s “generosity”, I call on @officialABAT to honour and reward these soldiers properly. N38k cannot boost but burst morale.”
In a post titled, Fundraiser for the 26 Gallant Soldiers Who Eliminated Halilu Sububu, Mr Bukarti noted said the killing of the terrorists is a monumental breakthrough in Nigeria’s war against terrorism.
He said, “Twenty-six gallant soldiers took down one of the most notorious bandit leaders, Halilou 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.”
“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 ₦1 million, even though the Nigerian Army had placed a ₦5 million bounty on Sububu’s head in 2022.
“That breaks down to only ₦38,000 per soldier. Think about it. These men, who face death every day, were given less than ₦40,000 for one of the most significant victories in this war. Many of these soldiers earn around ₦50,000 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.
“But we cannot wait for the government to act. As Nigerians, we must step up now. The Fashin Baki team, our weekly Facebook show, is donating…1.8 million to these soldiers, and we are launching a fundraiser to ensure they and their families receive the recognition they truly deserve. This is our chance to show our soldiers that we value their service and their sacrifice.
“We urge every Nigerian who understands the gravity of what these soldiers have done to join us. If you want to contribute, please contact @jaafarsjaafar or me directly. Our soldiers need to know that we stand with them. Together, let’s show them that, while some politicians may not care, Nigerians honours their heroes”.
