Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Harisu, 10 Gang Members Killed in Katsina Intra-Gang Clash

In a major breakthrough in the fight against armed banditry in Nigeria’s northwest, Kachalla Harisu, one of the most wanted bandit leaders in the region, has been killed along with ten of his gang members following a violent intra-gang clash in Katsina State.

The deadly confrontation occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, within the dense forests straddling the Safana and Dutsin-Ma Local Government Areas of Katsina. Sources close to the local security networks confirmed that the clash was sparked by a dispute over ransom proceeds and control of criminal territories.

Security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama reported that the infighting erupted due to disagreements among gang factions over recent ransom collections and a breakdown in leadership hierarch

Tensions, which had reportedly been building for weeks, finally escalated into a gun battle that left Harisu and several of his top lieutenants dead.

Harisu, a notorious figure in the criminal underworld, was linked to numerous kidnappings, cattle rustling operations, and deadly raids across northern Nigeria. He had long evaded arrest, using the remote forest corridors of Katsina and neighboring Zamfara states as operational bases.

The death of Kachalla Harisu is viewed as a significant victory for Nigerian security forces and a potential turning point in the ongoing efforts to dismantle organized criminal networks in the region.

“This is not just a tactical success; it’s a psychological one,” said a military source in Katsina who requested anonymity. “Harisu commanded fear, loyalty, and brutality. His elimination creates a leadership vacuum and weakens the morale of his followers.”

Intra-gang rivalries have become increasingly common among bandit groups operating in the northwest. As competition over ransom payments, illegal mining routes, and community extortion intensifies, clashes between rival factions have led to dozens of deaths over the past year.

These internal conflicts have presented new openings for security forces to strike, often leveraging intelligence from rival camps to target key figures.

The Katsina State Government and Nigerian military authorities have commended the outcome and pledged to intensify pressure on other remaining bandit leaders.

Military surveillance and ground operations have been ramped up across flashpoint areas in the region, with additional deployments of troops and aerial patrols to prevent retaliatory attacks from allied factions.

Security agencies are also encouraging local communities to remain vigilant and share intelligence that can help track the remnants of Harisu’s network and other criminal elements.

While the fall of Harisu marks a moment of relief for many residents, experts warn that banditry remains a complex threat, driven by poverty, weak governance, and access to arms.

“Harisu is gone, but unless the root causes of rural insecurity are addressed, someone else will rise in his place,” said a regional conflict researcher based in Kaduna.

Still, for now, the killing of Kachalla Harisu represents a major disruption in the deadly chain of attacks that have plagued northern Nigeria, and it sends a clear message to others: the era of impunity is nearing its end.