Troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, working with hybrid forces under Operation Accord III, have killed a notorious bandit commander, Babangida Kachala, in Kogi State.
Kachala, who was the second-in-command to the gang leader Kachala Shuaibu, was neutralised during a firefight in the Ofere Forest and Ayetoro Gbede axis of the state.
The operation took place on September 11 after troops received intelligence on the movement of armed groups in the area. While withdrawing from an ambush site, the soldiers came under attack from bandits. The troops returned fire, killing one of the gunmen and forcing others to flee with injuries.
Investigations later confirmed that Babangida Kachala, known for his role in multiple violent activities, was among those who sustained gunshot wounds and later died. His death comes just a week after the army neutralised another commander, Kachalla Balla, along with five of his men during an operation in Tunga, Kogi State.
During the latest encounter, soldiers recovered a magazine loaded with ammunition, 31 mobile phones, a blood pressure machine, cash, drugs, and charms belonging to the criminals. Follow-up clearance operations with air support also led to the rescue of several kidnapped victims.
The Army noted that its men are maintaining aggressive patrols and ambushes to clear criminal groups from Masalaci Boka, Ofere Forest, and other affected areas in Kogi State. Troops remain on high alert to ensure that bandit networks in the region are destroyed and peace is restored for residents.