Kachalla Maha commander captured troops operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have arrested several senior members of a terrorist group linked to suspected bandit leader Kachalla Maha in Katsina State.
The operation, carried out with the support of local vigilantes, reportedly led to the arrest of Samagi, described as a senior commander within the group. Security forces conducted the operation on Sunday, September 20, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt kidnapping and armed groups operating across the North-West.
Samagi Among Commanders Captured
According to LEADERSHIP, a military source in Gusau said troops arrested several senior members of the group during the operation. The source identified Samagi as one of those arrested.
Authorities will investigate the captured suspects further. Authorities will seek to establish their individual roles and possible links to previous attacks. Security agencies will also seek intelligence on the group’s leadership structure, hideouts, supply networks and possible collaborators.
Troops from Operation FANSAN YAMMA carried out the operation alongside local vigilantes. Local intelligence reportedly helped security personnel track the suspects through difficult terrain.
Link to Retired General Rabe
The development comes amid continued security operations following the abduction and death of retired Major General Abubakar Rabe in Katsina.
Reports have linked the Kachalla Maha network to the kidnapping and killing of the retired general. However, the latest reports focus on commanders operating under the group and do not say that troops captured Kachalla Maha himself.
The military had yet to release full details on the exact number of suspects captured. The military had yet to confirm whether troops recovered weapons during the operation.
The latest arrests form part of intensified operations by security forces against terrorist and criminal networks across the North-West.
The arrests could provide security agencies with useful intelligence about the group’s activities in the area. Investigators may also seek information from the suspects about the group’s movements, operational networks and possible links to other criminal activities across Katsina and neighbouring states.
