Under Operation ACCORD III, troops from the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, along with other hybrid forces, have killed Babangida Kachala, a notorious bandit commander who was the second-in-command to Kachala Shuaibu, the leader of a gang operating in the Masalaci Boka and Ofere Forest areas of Kogi State.
Just a week prior, in an attempt to reduce banditry in the state, the army had accomplished a similar achievement when they killed another commander, Kachalla Balla, along with five members of his gang.
On September 5, as part of Operation EGWUA A TITE II, the military also ambushed a bandit courier at Agbede–Adankoo Bridge, capturing supplies and weapons meant to help the criminals in their operations at a hideout near Tunga.
The action was carried out by troops as part of action ACCORD III, according to Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, in Lokoja.
Following the operation, follow-up clearance flights with air support resulted in the rescue of a number of abducted victims. The discovery was praised as a major step in bringing Kogi State’s peace back.
The statement claims that on September 11, 2025, joint soldiers ambushed a suspected bandit crossing point after receiving reliable information about bandit activity in the Ofere Forest and the Ayetoro Gbede general region. Despite the lack of initial interaction, the forces encountered an ambush set up by the criminals on their way back to base.
Abdullahi clarified that the brave soldiers used superior weaponry to engage the bandits in the resulting shootout, eliminating one of the offenders.
“The troops later exploited the area and recovered 31 mobile phones, a blood pressure machine, packs of Tramadol tablets, fetish charms, one fully loaded magazine, and N16,000 cash,” Abdullahi continued. Bloodstains found at the location showed that multiple bandits had been shot and fled.
He noted that later intelligence verified that Babangida Kachala, a known bandit and Kachala Shuaibu’s second-in-command, was among those who fled with gunshot wounds. Kachala Shuaibu was eventually pronounced dead.
With patrols and ambushes targeted at completely eliminating bandits and other criminal elements within Kogi State, Abdullahi claims that the troops of 12 Brigade under Operation ACCORD III continue to control their area of duty. He clarified that as long as the forces continue to apply constant pressure on the criminals, their morale and fighting effectiveness will stay high.
He added that in order to put an end to criminal activity, the Nigerian Army is still committed to restoring long-lasting peace and security in Kogi State and urged the public to support ongoing operations with timely and reliable information.
