September 13, (THEWILL) — Nigerian Army troops of 12 Brigade, under Operation Accord III, in conjunction with Other Hybrid Forces (OHF) have neutralised a notorious bandit and second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, leader of a bandit group operating within Masallaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State.
A statement signed on Saturday, by Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, explained that on September 11, 2025, following credible intelligence on the movement of bandits within Ofere Forest and Ayetoro Gbede general area, the combined troops laid an ambush at a suspected bandit crossing point.
Abdullahi said though initial contact was not made, the troops, while withdrawing to base, ran into an ambush staged by the bandits along their route. He added that 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 the sum of N16,000 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 Masallaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State. He was later confirmed dead”, he noted.
Abdullahi said the troops continue 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.
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