No fewer than four suspected terrorist kingpins, including a notorious figure identified as Laggu, have been killed during a clash between rival armed groups in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Security sources told Zagagola Makama that the incident occurred around Rijana Dam in the southern part of the state and was uncovered following credible human intelligence reports received on June 8.
The sources said the confrontation involved rival terrorist factions operating within the Rijana axis, an area that has continued to witness security challenges due to the activities of armed criminal groups.
According to the sources, four prominent commanders were killed during the clash, while several other fighters sustained serious injuries.
The cause of the confrontation had yet to be fully established, but sources said such clashes were often linked to disputes over territorial control, leadership tussles, competition for resources or disagreements over the sharing of proceeds from criminal activities.
The bodies of the deceased commanders were reportedly evacuated for burial.
The identities of the other slain kingpins had yet to be officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Security sources said efforts were ongoing to determine the number of injured fighters and the factions involved in the clash.
They added that surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations had been intensified across the Rijana-Kachia corridor to track the movement of surviving fighters.
Security forces are also monitoring the area to prevent possible reprisals and take advantage of intelligence arising from the confrontation.
