Troops Eliminate Notorious Bandit Leader In Kogi

TROOPS of the Nigerian Army’s 12 Brigade, under Operation ACCORD III, have confirmed the elimination of Babangida Kachalla, a notorious second-in-command to bandit leader Shuaibu Kachala, during an operation in Kogi State.

According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for 12 Brigade, the breakthrough came on 11 September 2025, following credible intelligence on the movement of bandits within the Ofere Forest and Ayetoro Gbede axis.

The statement said that troops, operating alongside Other Hybrid Forces (OHF), laid an ambush at a suspected crossing point. A firefight ensued, during which the soldiers engaged the bandits with superior firepower. One criminal was neutralised, and items recovered during the subsequent clearance operation included a fully loaded magazine, 31 mobile phones, a blood pressure machine, packs of Tramadol tablets, fetish charms and N16,000 in cash.

Intelligence sources confirmed that Babangida Kachalla, who sustained gunshot wounds while fleeing, later died. He was the deputy to Shuaibu Kachala, who leads a notorious bandit group operating within Masalaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State.

The Army said troops of 12 Brigade will continue to dominate the area with patrols and clearance operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks and restoring peace to the region.

The Nigerian Army further reassured residents of its determination to safeguard Kogi State, urging the public to provide timely and credible information to support ongoing security efforts.