A notorious bandit leader, Muhammadu Kachalla, has allegedly threatened to launch fresh attacks on communities in Matazu and Musawa local government areas of Katsina State if the government fails to release two of his associates and return his confiscated cattle.
The threats were contained in a viral audio conversation purportedly between Kachalla and an individual identified as “Comrade,” in which the bandit leader claimed he was prepared to intensify violence across the affected communities.
In the recording, Kachalla accused security forces of destroying houses and killing his cattle during recent military operations, describing the government’s actions as a declaration against peace.
“You have not seen anything yet,” he allegedly said, adding that he intended to move from village to village to kill residents and burn their homes if his demands were not met. He also claimed that the military’s recent rescue of abducted victims from his camp without negotiations was merely a show of force.
According to him, he had demanded the release of two of his men, but the authorities ignored his request.
Kachalla further alleged that he had identified prominent individuals for future abduction to demonstrate that his group remained stronger than government forces.
“The people in the communities gave information that led the government to where General Rabe’s wife was being held. Our informants also tell us what is happening in those communities,” he reportedly said.
The bandit leader boasted that security forces could not confront his fighters inside the forests, claiming that soldiers only patrol major roads.
“If they enter the bush, we could plant improvised explosive devices on the roads,” he allegedly threatened.
Kachalla also vowed that farming activities would become impossible in the affected communities if his demands were ignored. “If my cattle are not returned and my boys are not released, nobody will farm in those communities,” he said. Referring to the death of the late retired General Rabe Abubakar, Kachalla claimed he allowed the deceased’s body to be released for burial as a gesture of goodwill.
“If not because I wanted peace, I would not have released his corpse for burial. I did that to show I am a man of peace,” he allegedly stated.
When told that the Katsina State Government was not directly responsible for the recent military operations, Kachalla dismissed the argument, insisting that the measures had little effect on him but had worsened the suffering of local residents.
He threatened and warned that he would order his fighters to kill about 200 people if the authorities continued with the current security operations instead of meeting his demands.
As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Government and security agencies had not officially responded to the contents of the viral audio.
