A notorious bandit commander, Kachalla Sharme, who had long terrorised communities in Kaduna State, has been killed in a violent clash between rival gangs, according to state officials. Sharme, responsible for numerous brutal attacks, kidnappings, and killings across Kaduna and neighbouring regions, met his demise in a deadly gun battle on Saturday in the Rijana and Kaso Forests.
Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna’s Overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, confirmed Sharme’s death in a statement on Monday, hailing it as a significant victory in the ongoing fight against banditry in the North-West. The fierce confrontation took place in Hambakko, an area notorious for criminal activity, which straddles the Kachia, Chikun, and Kajuru Local Government Areas.
“After extensive intelligence operations, we are pleased to report that the notorious bandit commander, Kachalla Tukur Sharme, and others, have been killed in a fratricidal clash,” said Aruwan. Two other bandits were also killed, and five were seriously injured in the skirmish.
Sharme’s gang, infamous for their reign of terror across Kaduna, was behind the abduction of 121 students from Bethel Baptist High School in Kujama in July 2021, one of many atrocities attributed to the group. Despite being a target of security forces for years, Sharme had repeatedly evaded capture until his death in the weekend’s gun battle.
The commissioner revealed that the internal clash between rival factions not only led to Sharme’s death but also allowed several kidnapped civilians to escape captivity. He warned that five injured bandits are still at large, lurking in the area and seeking medical treatment for their wounds.
In his statement, Aruwan urged residents of the affected areas—Rijana, Kaso, and surrounding villages—to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. “Do not offer assistance to anyone with suspicious injuries,” he warned. “Alert the nearest security personnel or contact the Kaduna State Security Operations Room.”
Sharme’s demise, while seen as a breakthrough in the government’s efforts to dismantle the region’s bandit networks, comes after years of terror. His group was notorious for its brutality, not only in Kaduna but also in the neighbouring states of Niger and Katsina, where communities suffered under waves of kidnapping and cattle rustling.
Despite the progress, security remains fragile in Kaduna State, where armed bandit groups continue to clash over territory and resources, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The government’s call for public cooperation in identifying injured bandits is part of a broader strategy to curb the escalating violence in the region.
