Ali Kachalla, one of
the bandit leaders operating in the north-west has, reportedly, been identified
as the mastermind of the downing of the fighter jet of the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF) in July.
The fighter jet was returning from an air interdiction
mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna states when it came under
heavy fire from bandits and crashed in Zamfara.
Recall that
Abayomi Dairo, a flight lieutenant and pilot of the jet, survived after he
successfully ejected from the aircraft.
According to Daily Trust, Kachalla’s men who have their hideout in Kuyambana, brought down the jet near Kabaru village, located some 15 km west of Dansadau town.
The newspaper reported that shooting down the NAF jet might
be Kachalla’s most daring exploit yet, but for residents in the troubled
Dansadau district, his name has been on their lips, especially in recent
times.
Kachalla, the newspaper said, has stepped up attacks on
Dansadau town to protest the blocking of supplies to him from the town and the
villagers’ help in the escape of the military pilot who he wanted to capture
alive.
He is said to have carried out a series of brutal attacks on
communities in the district and he is known to take special interest in
ambushing military personnel.
Kachalla, who is in his thirties, is reported as a leader
controlling over 200 armed men in Kuyambana forest.
“His settlement consisting of several strings of thatched
huts is on Birnin Gwari side of the river. But, his large herd of cattle being
manned by his heavily armed boys is based in Zamfara State,” the newspaper
quoted a source in the area who craved anonymity.
“As I’m talking to you his boys can be found in Dandalla,
Madada and Gobirawa Kwacha communities. The villages are all situated southeast
of Dansadau town. They are all being controlled by the armed men.”
Kachalla’s men are described as “fearless fighters” who have
been laying ambush for security operatives for a long time. His boys are also
said to outnumber most of those in other gangs in the area.
In one of the attacks, his men reportedly set an armoured
personnel carrier ablaze, after chasing security forces deployed in the town.
“Dansadau community has drawn the ire of Kachalla and his
boys after local traders were blocked from selling food to him,” one source
told Daily Trust.
“There are some unscrupulous elements among the local
traders who still take bread, soft drinks and other groceries to the bandits in
the forest.”
The NAF is yet to provide any update on the attack.
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