Baleri, who was among the terrorists declared wanted by the Nigerian government, has perpetrated large-scale killings, carried out abductions and placed levies on communities in the North West.
The leader of a notorious bandit group, Kachalla Baleri has reportedly been apprehended.
The armed bandit was reportedly apprehended on Tuesday, May 28, by the Niger Republic’s troops of Operation Faraoutar Bushiya at Rouga Kowa Gwani in Guidan-Roumdji department.
PRNigeria reports that Baleri, originally from Shinkafi in Zamfara State, escaped from Nigeria.
He was notorious for terrorising the residents of the North-West of Zamfara, Sokoto and Maradi region in Niger Republic, Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert in the Lake-Chad area disclosed in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Baleri, who was among the terrorists declared wanted by the Nigerian government, has perpetrated large-scale killings, carried out abductions and placed levies on communities in the North West.
It was noted that he was the righthand man of Kachalla Bello Turji, a bandit kingpin, and was ranked the 40th most wanted person in Nigeria by the Nigerian Army.
According to the chief of the tactical staff of Operation Faraoutar Bushiya, Colonel Mohamed Almoctar Seydou Niandou, Balleri was apprehended at about 1 pm, during a clearance operation 10km east of Tankama.
He was reportedly meeting with his men and planning attacks to be carried out in Nigeria and Niger Republic when he was nabbed.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony of the criminals, the Governor of the region CGP Issoufou Mamane and the Prosecutor of the Republic Adamou Abdou Adam hailed the professionalism and commitment of the SDFs deployed on the group.
They said the arrest marks a significant achievement in the fight against banditry and terrorism in the region, Makama added.
