Notorious Bandit Nasiru Kachalla, Others Killed In Gun Battle With Rival Gang In Kaduna Forest
Nasiru Kachalla, a notorious gunman, who has been alleged to be the mastermind of several criminal acts in the state has been killed, Kaduna State Government said.
A statement by Samuel Aruwan, the state Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs on Monday said Kachalla was killed in a clash between his gang and a rival group of terrorists.
He has been on the run for masterminding several criminal acts, including kidnappings, killings, cattle rustling and terrorism in the state.
According to Aruwan, human intelligence networks confirmed that criminals from the rival sides were also killed, including some of Kachalla’s lieutenants.
“The clash occurred in a forest around the boundaries of Kajuru-Chikun Local Government Areas of Kaduna Central Senatorial District,” he said in the statement.
Aruwan explained that a dispute over a large herd of rustled cattle was said to have triggered the fatal confrontation.
He said Kachalla and his gang were also involved in several crimes, including kidnappings, killings and terrorism on the Kaduna-Abuja road and also in the Chikun/Kajuru general areas.
The Commissioner disclosed that Kachalla was the mastermind of the January 9, 2020 kidnapping of seminarians of Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, and the January 24, 2020 kidnapping of Mrs Bola Ataga and her two children.
“The criminals later killed one of the seminarians, Michael Nnadi and Mrs. Ataga before releasing her children,” he said.
Kachalla’s criminal gang was also responsible for the kidnapping of six students and two teachers of Engravers College, in Kakau village of Chikun local government on October 3, 2019.
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He said while Kachalla was being pursued, security agents arrested three members of his gang, Tukur Usman, Shehu Bello and Mustapha Mohammed in April 2020.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner stated troops of the Nigerian Army repelled an attempted attack by armed men along the Galadimawa-Zaria road in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
He said that the armed men blocked the road for some minutes, shooting sporadically at motorists plying the route.
“A combined team of the 4 Battalion and Field Engineers Regiment of the Nigerian Army mobilized to the location,” Aruwan said.
“The road was cleared and normalcy was restored, with no kidnapping or harm to motorists.”
Troops and police are currently dominating the area with patrols.
He also added that the government was informed of an incident in a forest located in the Western part of Chikun Local Government Area, where gunmen opened fire on some hunters.
According to him, security agents are carrying out investigations to ascertain the exact location as well as fatalities if any.
Citizens will be briefed on the operational feedback as it emerges, Aruwan said.
In the meantime, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has appealed to Tsohon Gaya, Sabon Gaya and other communities with members missing in the hunting expedition to remain calm.
Credit: HumAngle
