Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly killed notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Gudau, in Kaduna State.
Gudau is alleged to be responsible for most kidnappings and killings in the Chikun, Kachia, and Kajuru local government areas of the State.
According to the state government, Gudau was killed by troops on Sunday at a place called Kankomi in Kaduna.
The state internal security and home affairs in commissioner, Samuel Aruwan, said Gudau was killed during a gun battle with soldiers.
He said, “The remains of the notorious bandit – who is said to have links with other notorious kingpins across the North-West and North-Central states – were retrieved in the Kankomi Forest where he bled to death.
“Credible sources reported that after his remains were retrieved, a large number of bandits under his command buried him in a location said to be around Kaku Forest situated in Kaso general area of Chikun LGA.
“The identity of another of the neutralised bandits whose remains were found by the troops, has been confirmed as ‘Rigimamme’ one of Gudau’s trusted criminal aides.
“Gudau played leading roles in the joint kidnappings of students and expatriates in Kajuru, Chikun and Kachia councils, aside from the murder of kidnapped citizens and victims who resisted abduction.
“Added to these nefarious activities, Gudau was engaged in coordinated attacks on herder settlements, disposing them of livestock, which made him the illegal possessor of large herds of cattle. These he regularly traded for amounts running into millions of naira. He also made deals for illicit drugs and acquisition of sophisticated arms and ammunition.
“The high point of his cattle rustling spree came in the first and second quarters of 2022, where in Kajuru LGA alone, Gudau and his partners rustled 1,600 and 3, 332 cattle respectively, a total of 4,932 cows stolen in the first six months of 2022.
“With the ongoing aggressive kinetic operations, Gudau’s cattle rustling – in Kajuru LGA particularly – began to wane, as 132 cattle were rustled in the third quarter of 2022 (the period spanning July, August and September).
“The heat of the kinetic operations which denied his bandits freedom of action may have prompted the attack on the military base in Kankomi, where he met his waterloo.”
