Troops Kill Notorious Bandits’ Leader In Kogi

Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army under Operation ACCORD III, in conjunction with Other Hybrid Forces (OHF), have killed a notorious bandit leader in Kogi State identified as Babangida Kachala.

The acting assistant director, Army Public Relations,12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

Abdullahi said on September 11, following credible intelligence report on the movement of bandits within the Ofere forest and Ayetoro Gbede general area, the combined troops laid an ambush at a suspected bandit crossing point.

He added, “Although initial contact was not made, the troops, while withdrawing to base, ran into an ambush staged by the criminals along their route.

“In the ensuing firefight, the gallant troops engaged the bandits with superior firepower, neutralising one of the criminals. The troops thereafter exploited the area, during which they recovered one fully loaded magazine, 31 mobile phones, a blood pressure machine, packs of Tramadol tablets, fetish charms and ₦16,000 cash.

“Bloodstains observed at the scene further suggested that several other bandits escaped with gunshot wounds. Subsequent intelligence confirmed that among those who fled with gunshot wounds was Babangida Kachala, a notorious bandit and second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, the leader of a bandit group operating within Masalaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State. He was later confirmed dead.”

He added that troops continued to dominate the area of responsibility with patrols and ambushes aimed at totally decimating bandits and other criminal elements within the boundaries of Kogi State.

According to him, the morale and fighting efficiency of the troops remain high as they sustain unrelenting pressure on the criminals.

The brigade assured of its determination to restore lasting peace and security, while encouraging citizens to provide timely and credible information to aid ongoing operations.