Mastermind of Zamfara students’ abduction, Ali Kachala, killed in Air strike

A wanted terrorist leader, Ali Alhaji Alheri, popularly called Kachalla Ali Kawaje has been killed in an air strike in Niger state, the Defence Headquarters has said.

In a statement on Friday, director of media operations at the Defence Headquarter, Edward Buba said Kachalla was killed alongside thirty-nine fighters, including one Machika, a terrorist bomb expert.

According to the military, Kachalla was responsible for the abduction of the students of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State.

The statement added that one hundred and fifty-nine of the terrorists were arrested.

“During the week in focus, air assets conducted aggressive air flights on confirmed locations active with the movement of terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers. Strikes carried out resulted in over 38 terrorist commanders and their foot soldiers, while 159 of them were arrested,” the statement reads.

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“Recently, the military conducted two major air strikes on the terrorist enclave. One of the strikes, on Dec 6, neutralized several top terrorist commanders. Namely, one Machika, a top terrorist bomb expert and younger brother of a notorious terrorist (Dogo Gide).

“Other prominent terrorist leaders neutralised include Haro and Dan Muhammadu, both of whom are specialists in kidnapping and assault operations, respectively.

“A renowned terrorist leader responsible for the abduction of the students of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, Ali Alhaji Alheri, popularly called Kachalla Ali Kawaje, was neutralised in Munya LGA of Niger state along with many of his foot soldiers. The military is fast closing in on others, and they will equally suffer the same fate.

“The armed forces are hunting down prominent terrorist leadership and engaging them wherever they are hiding.”