Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA in collaboration with local vigilantes have captured key commanders of a notorious terrorist group linked to the kidnapping and killing of Major General Abubakar Rabe (retd) in Katsina State.
A military source in Gusau who spoke on condition of anonymity told LEADERSHIP that the operation, conducted on Sunday, led to the arrest of several senior members of the group operating under one Kachalla Maha.
According to the source, among those apprehended was a top commander identified as Samagi, described as a key figure in the group’s operational structure.
The arrest of the senior commanders is considered a major breakthrough in the ongoing offensive to dismantle criminal networks and disrupt their command and control structures across the North-West.
The suspects are believed to have played prominent roles in kidnapping, killings and other violent attacks attributed to the Kachalla Maha group in parts of the region.
The operation, which involved troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA and local vigilantes, underscored the importance of credible local intelligence and community-based partnerships in tracking terrorists operating in difficult terrain.
A prominent vigilante leader who identified himself as Mamara said the capture of Samagi and other senior members could provide security agencies with valuable intelligence on the group’s leadership, operational methods, hideouts, supply networks and possible collaborators.
The killing of Major General Rabe (retd) had heightened concerns over the activities of armed groups and the threats they pose to military personnel and civilians in the North-West.
Security forces have continued to intensify operations against terrorist groups in identified enclaves, with the aim of denying them freedom of movement and degrading their capacity to carry out attacks and kidnappings.
Sources said the latest arrests are expected to support ongoing intelligence-gathering and help trace other members of the network and their links to previous attacks.
The suspects are expected to undergo further investigation to determine their individual roles in the activities of the Kachalla Maha group and their involvement in other violent incidents across Katsina and neighbouring states.
As at the time of filing this report, official details on the exact number of suspects arrested and weapons recovered were still being awaited from the military authorities.
