The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of Babangida Kachala, a notorious bandit commander and deputy to gang leader Kachala Shuaibu, in a recent offensive across Kogi State forests.
The operation, which took place on 11 September 2025 under Operation Accord III, saw troops of the 12 Brigade, Lokoja, working with hybrid security forces to track down the criminals in Ofere Forest and Ayetoro Gbede.
Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 12 Brigade, disclosed that the troops initially set an ambush at a suspected bandit crossing point. Although the criminals were not intercepted immediately, the soldiers later encountered an ambush staged by the same gang.
“In the ensuing firefight, the gallant troops engaged the bandits with superior firepower, neutralising one of the criminals,” Abdullahi said.
The Army recovered a cache of items, including a loaded magazine, multiple mobile phones, a blood pressure machine, Tramadol tablets, fetish charms, and cash. Evidence at the scene revealed that several bandits had fled with serious gunshot wounds.
Follow-up intelligence confirmed that one of the injured was Babangida Kachala, the second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, who later died from his injuries.
This success follows an earlier strike on September 5, where troops neutralized Kachalla Balla and five of his lieutenants under Operation Egwua a Tite II. That mission also resulted in the rescue of kidnapped victims and the seizure of arms.
The Nigerian Army assured residents that the operations will continue until bandits and other criminal groups are completely dismantled in Kogi.
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