A major progress has been made in the fight against banditry as the leader of a notorious bandit group, Kachalla Baleri, has been apprehended.
Reports indicate that Baleri was captured by the Niger Republic’s troops of Operation Faraoutar Bushiya on Tuesday, May 28, at Rouga Kowa Gwani in the Guidan-Roumdji department. Originally from Shinkafi in Zamfara State, Baleri had fled Nigeria to evade capture.
Known for terrorizing communities in the North-West region of Nigeria and the Maradi region in Niger Republic, Baleri was a wanted criminal responsible for large-scale killings, abductions, and extortion. He served as the right-hand man to Kachalla Bello Turji, a notorious bandit kingpin, and was ranked as the 40th most wanted person in Nigeria by the Nigerian Army.
According to Colonel Mohamed Almoctar Seydou Niandou, the chief of the tactical staff of Operation Faraoutar Bushiya, Baleri was apprehended during a clearance operation at about 1 pm, while he was planning attacks in Nigeria and Niger Republic.
During a presentation ceremony of the captured criminals, Governor CGP Issoufou Mamane and Prosecutor Adamou Abdou Adam commended the professionalism and dedication of the deployed security forces. They emphasized that Baleri’s arrest signifies a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat banditry and terrorism in the region.