Kachalla Tukur Sharme, a notorious bandit commander, was killed alongside other members of his gang in a violent clash with a rival group. The fratricidal confrontation, which took place in the forests straddling the Rijana and Kaso areas of Kaduna State, also led to the escape of several kidnapped victims.
Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, confirmed the incident, noting that Sharme and two rival bandits were killed in the fierce gun battle. Intelligence sources reported that five other bandits sustained injuries and are currently hiding, seeking medical assistance for their wounds.
Sharme was a key figure behind numerous attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling across several communities, including Millennium City, Maraban Rido, Kujama, Kajuru, and villages in the Kateri area, as well as neighboring states such as Katsina and Niger. He had evaded security forces for years and was responsible for some of the most notorious criminal acts in the region, including the abduction of 121 students from Bethel Baptist High School in Kujama, Kaduna State, in July 2021.
“The clash took place over the weekend in a location known as ‘Hambakko’ in the Rijana and Kaso Forests, which cover parts of Kachia, Chikun, and Kajuru Local Government Areas,” Aruwan stated. “Sharme was long sought by security forces and had narrowly escaped capture on multiple occasions before meeting his end in this internal conflict.”
While the security forces successfully repelled Sharme’s group, the operation came at a heavy cost, with two security personnel losing their lives.
Aruwan urged residents of Rijana, Kaso, and surrounding communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals, particularly those seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. He emphasized the need for cooperation with security agencies and provided hotlines for reporting such incidents: 09034000060 and 08170189999. He also assured residents that all information would be handled with strict confidentiality.
