Nigerian troops have recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry with the killing of Kachalla Kallamu, the feared deputy of notorious bandits kingpin Bello Turji. The operation was executed by soldiers of the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
According to a senior military source, the coordinated offensive took place at dawn on Monday near Kurawa village. Kallamu was neutralised alongside one of Turji’s key logistics suppliers in what the source described as “a major blow to the Turji network.”
“Kallamu had been on our radar for several months. His elimination significantly weakens the bandit structure operating in Sabon Birni and neighbouring communities,” the source said, adding that local vigilante groups played a crucial supporting role in the success of the mission.
Kallamu, a native of Garin-Idi in Sabon Birni, had long been a source of terror in the area. He reportedly fled to Kogi State following a military onslaught in June 2025 but is believed to have secretly returned to Sokoto in recent weeks before meeting his end.
Security officials credit the increased collaboration between residents and security agencies for the recent surge in successful operations.
Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmad Aliyu on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (Rtd.), commended the troops for their professionalism and sustained pressure against criminal elements, describing the operation as another step forward in restoring peace to the region.
