A notorious bandit commander, Babangida Kachala, who was the second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, leader of a gang operating within the Masalaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State, has been eliminated by troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, under Operation ACCORD III, in collaboration with other hybrid forces.
The troops had recorded a similar feat barely a week earlier, when operatives neutralised another commander, Kachalla Balla, together with five of his gang members, as part of efforts to curb banditry in the state.
At a hideout near Tunga under Operation EGWUA A TITE II on September 5, the troops also ambushed a bandit courier at Agbede–Adankoo Bridge, recovering weapons and supplies intended to aid the criminals in their operations.
Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, in Lokoja, confirmed the operation, saying it was carried out by troops under Operation ACCORD III.
Following the operation, several kidnapped victims were rescued during follow-up clearance missions with air support. The breakthrough was hailed as a significant step towards restoring peace in Kogi State.
According to the statement, on September 11, 2025, following credible intelligence on the movement of bandits within Ofere Forest and the Ayetoro Gbede general area, combined troops laid an ambush at a suspected bandit crossing point. 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, Abdullahi explained, the gallant troops engaged the bandits with superior firepower, neutralising one of the criminals.
Abdullahi added, “the troops later exploited the area and recovered one fully loaded magazine, 31 mobile phones, a blood pressure machine, packs of Tramadol tablets, fetish charms, and N16,000 cash. Bloodstains at the scene indicated that several bandits escaped with gunshot wounds.”
He pointed out that subsequent intelligence confirmed that among those who fled with gunshot wounds was Babangida Kachala, a notorious bandit and second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, who was later confirmed dead.
According to Abdullahi, troops of 12 Brigade under Operation ACCORD III continue to dominate their area of responsibility with patrols and ambushes aimed at totally decimating bandits and other criminal elements within Kogi State. He explained that the morale and fighting efficiency of the troops remain high as they sustain unrelenting pressure on the criminals.
He further stated that the Nigerian Army remains determined to restore lasting peace and security in Kogi State, urging citizens to provide timely and credible information to support ongoing operations in order to bring criminal activities to a standstill.
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