Notorious Bandit Kingpin Kachalla Kabiru N£utralised By Nigerian Forces In Kogi Operation –Security Sources
Notorious Bandit Kingpin Kachalla Kabiru Neutralised By Nigerian Forces In Kogi Operation –Security Sources
SaharaReporters gathered that the operation, which culminated in airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force, was executed following weeks of sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance that confirmed the presence of the bandit leader at a designated hideout.
Operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, in a joint operation with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, have reportedly neutralised notorious bandit kingpin Kachalla Kabiru and several of his lieutenants during a military operation in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria.
SaharaReporters gathered that the operation, which culminated in airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force, was executed following weeks of sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance that confirmed the presence of the bandit leader at a designated hideout.
Intelligence sources told SaharaReporters that the decisive strike was conducted on February 13, 2026.
“Kachalla Kabiru and some of his top lieutenants were neutralised in a coordinated operation involving air and ground assets,” an intelligence source said.
Kachalla Kabiru was identified by security agencies as one of the earliest and most influential bandit leaders to establish a strong operational foothold in Kogi State.
According to an intelligence report obtained by SaharaReporters on Monday, the slain kingpin was deeply involved in the recruitment, coordination and movement of bandits across several states in North Central Nigeria, significantly contributing to the expansion and sophistication of criminal networks in the region.
Intelligence sources disclosed that Kabiru originally migrated from the North West to Kogi State more than a decade ago, where he steadily built a sprawling criminal enterprise centred on kidnapping for ransom and armed violence.
“He moved from the North West into Kogi over 10 years ago and entrenched himself in the forests and border communities,” a senior security official said. “From there, he coordinated kidnapping and banditry operations across Kogi, Kwara, Benue, Enugu, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states. He was a key node linking criminal groups across state lines.”
According to the intelligence sources, Kabiru played a central role in logistics and manpower mobilisation for bandit groups, facilitating the movement of fighters, weapons and kidnapped victims between forest corridors stretching from the North West into the North Central and South West zones.
“The operation was executed through precision airstrikes by the Nigerian Air Force, coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with Department of State Services and 2 division of Nigeria Army.
“The strike followed credible intelligence confirming the kingpin’s presence at a designated target location.
“Successful neutralisation of Kachalla Kabiru represents a significant blow to organized banditry in the North Central zone and is expected to disrupt operational coordination among criminal elements,” an intelligence source added.
