Notorious bandit commander, Kachalla Tukur Sharme, linked to kidnap of 121 Bethel Baptist High School pupils in Kaduna State and two members of a rival gang have been killed in a violent clash between their groups in the forests around Rijana and Kaso, Kaduna State.

In a statement, the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs of the state, Samuel Aruwan, said the clash, which occurred over the weekend, left several bandits critically injured, while some kidnapped victims managed to escape during the chaos.

As a result of the incident, the overseeing commissioner urged residents to contact the state Security Operations Room with any information in case they notice any suspicious activity or movement.

Aruwan said Sharme, known for his brutal reign of terror across Kaduna and neighbouring states, met his end in a fierce gunfight with an opposing gang at a location identified as ‘Hambakko’, spanning Kachia, Chikun, and Kajuru local government areas of Kaduna.

According to Aruwan, “Intelligence sources revealed that five other bandits were wounded in the fratricidal clash and are now hiding in the area, seeking medical assistance. Residents in Rijana, Kaso, Kasarami, Jaka da-Rabi, and surrounding communities have been advised not to offer help to anyone with gunshot wounds but to report suspicious individuals to security forces immediately.

“Sharme had been responsible for numerous attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling incidents, including the infamous abduction of 121 students from Bethel Baptist High School, Kujama, on July 5, 2021.”

The commissioner said while Sharme had evaded security forces on several occasions, his death comes as a relief to many communities affected by his criminal activities. “His gang was notorious for attacks in areas such as Millenium City, Maraban Rido, Kujama, Kajuru, and the Kateri general area, as well as parts of Birnin Gwari, Kagarko, Kachia, and neighboring states of Katsina and Niger,” Aruwan added.

He, however, stated that in the course of repelling Sharme and his group, two security personnel lost their lives.

Western Nigeria Security Network in Ondo State, code named Amotekun Corps, has arrested 27 suspects over alleged kidnapping, stealing and other crimes.

The state Commander of the  Amotekun Corps, Mr Adetunji Adeleye, broke the news while parading the suspects before reporters yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Adeleye said the suspects, including four alleged kidnappers, were arrested in various parts of the state.

He said the suspected kidnappers and other gang members still on the run had for long been terrorising  villagers in Ikakumo-Akoko.

“We also arrested a major member of a syndicate that specialises in killing commercial motorcycle riders, after robbing them.

“We went as far as Kogi and Edo, before we were able to track and arrest the suspect, who is here on parade.”

“He has confessed to stealing so many motorcycles in the last five years in Akure, Ogbese and Uso .

“He said he has lost count of the number of motorcycles stolen, and after dispossessing their owners of them, dismantled them, and took the parts out of the state in pieces,” the commander said.

Adeleye said the command’s personnel also arrested five suspects who specialise in stealing household equipment and foodstuffs.

Equally arrested were suspects, who allegedly broke into a shop and stole mattresses, which were sold between N5,000 and N10,000.

The commander further said that the recent establishment of the Amotekun Rangers had yielded positive results as some suspected criminals have been arrested in border forests in Edo and Kogi.

The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) has declared the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winners of the chairmanship elections held on Saturday across the 17 local government areas of the state.

ENSIEC Chairman, Prof. Christian Ngwu, who declared the results on Sunday said the Commission conducted free and fair elections in the local government areas.

Declaring the elections as the fairest, Ngwu said the commission carefully collated and analysed the results to ensure that there were no mistakes.

“We carefully collated and analysed the results to ensure that there were no mistakes,” he said.

However, none of the opposition candidates that contested the chairmanship positions was at the ENSIEC Collation Centre where the election results were declared.

Expressing joy at their victory, chairman-elect for Oji River local government, Greg Amyaegbudike said he would make youth empowerment his watchword.

Anyaegbudike pledged to provide gainful jobs for employable youths and organise skills acquisition programme that would benefit all.

“I’ll make sure that the youth of Oji River are gainfully employed. Those who are employable, will definitely get employed,” he pledged.