On Thursday, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, rewarded 26 soldiers with N1 million for their pivotal role in an operation that dismantled terrorist camps in Zamfara State.
The military action, carried out in September, resulted in the elimination of Halilu Sububu, a notorious terrorist leader who had 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 offered for tips leading to their elimination. A native of Sububu village in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara, Sububu had long evaded authorities while orchestrating acts of violence.
During his visit to Zamfara, General Musa addressed the troops, asking, “Who are those who led today’s operation? How many soldiers were involved? I am giving you guys N1 million to share as a token of our appreciation,” Musa told them. If shared equally, each soldier would receive approximately N38,461 ($23.46). However, given the military’s hierarchical structure, the money could be distributed according to rank.
Security Expert Criticizes Token Reward
Despite the significant success of the operation, Bulama Bukarti, a security analyst with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, expressed dissatisfaction with the N1 million reward. Calling the gesture “unacceptable,” he urged President Bola Tinubu to confer national awards on the soldiers and called for financial contributions from Nigerians to recognize the soldiers’ bravery.
“These 26 soldiers took down one of Nigeria’s most notorious terrorist leaders, yet their reward doesn’t reflect the magnitude of their sacrifice. Sububu was not just another criminal; he was a mastermind of kidnappings, killings, and terror attacks across the region,” Bukarti said in a post on X. He also launched a fundraiser to further reward the troops for their valor.
Bukarti emphasized that the soldiers’ reward of N38,000 each was insufficient, especially considering the N5 million bounty placed on Sububu’s head in 2022. He pointed out the disparity between the soldiers’ wages, typically around N50,000 per month, and the vast sums bandits earned through ransom operations.
“This situation is unacceptable. These courageous soldiers deserve more than a token gesture. A National Award and a substantial financial reward would not only honor their bravery but also serve as motivation for future operations,” Bukarti added.
Sububu’s Reign of Terror Ends
Sububu had been responsible for years of violence in northwestern Nigeria, including the deaths of 19 officers and the destruction of security infrastructure in 2021. His death marks a significant victory in Nigeria’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
Reports indicate that Sububu had deep ties to terrorist groups across the Sahel region, including Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Burkina Faso, which fueled his arms trafficking and illegal mining operations. Born in 1986 to a Nigerien mother, Sububu operated as the self-proclaimed “Leader of terrorists in Nigeria’s northern flank.”
As of press time, efforts to contact the Defence Headquarters for additional comments were unsuccessful.
