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.