Troops kill notorious bandit leader Kachalla Bala, five others in Kogi

Troops of the 12 Brigade Lokoja have eliminated a notorious bandit commander, Kachalla Bala, and five of his associates during a fierce gun battle in Kogi State.

Brigade spokesman, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed this in a statement on Monday in Lokoja, noting that the operation was part of the ongoing Exercise Egwua A Tite II, which ran from September 1 to 5, 2025, across several parts of the state.

He said the operation has recorded major successes, including the neutralisation of armed criminals and the rescue of kidnapped victims in Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, and Yagba West Local Government Areas.

Recovered items include five Dane guns, a motorcycle, two mobile phones, and an AK-47 magazine loaded with 20 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

Abdullahi explained that troops of the 126 Battalion, supported by hybrid forces, engaged bandits around Tunga, killing two. The Brigade Commander and Force Commander of Operation Accord III, Brigadier General Kasim Sidi, personally led several missions, destroying bandit camps and sustaining aggressive patrols.

On September 2, troops conducted an air assault in Ankomi, killing fleeing bandits, while a clearance operation in Aleke, Ungwan Soni, and Ungwan Nyaba on September 3 led to the rescue of a kidnapped victim, Pabo Suleiman, and his two children.

The deadly encounter that claimed Bala’s life occurred on September 5, ahead of Tunga, following a heavy exchange of gunfire.

Abdullahi stressed that the troops remain determined to wipe out criminal elements in Kogi and its environs, assuring residents of continued operations to restore peace and security in the region.