A notorious terrorist leader, Kachalla Maha, has reportedly threatened to escalate attacks in parts of Katsina State, while claiming he receives advance information about planned security operations.
The threat was contained in an audio recording shared on Sunday by verified X user Abdool Moh.
In the recording, Maha allegedly vowed to sustain attacks unless authorities release his arrested associates and return cattle he claimed were seized.
He said previous demands for their release had been ignored by the authorities.
According to the audio, Maha warned that violence against communities and security operatives would continue if his demands were not met.
He also accused security forces of killing his cattle and burning down their camps, alleging that the government was unwilling to allow them to live peacefully.
Maha claimed attempts to negotiate with local communities had failed because, according to him, the government was not listening to complaints or advice from mediators.
He further insisted that no amount of military deployment would force him to back down, stressing that he would continue his activities for as long as he remained alive.
The terrorist also threatened to disrupt farming activities in several local government areas if his cattle were not returned, warning that residents would bear the consequences of the conflict.
In the recording, Maha further claimed he had access to sensitive information on security operations, alleging that some operatives tipped him off whenever troops were planning to raid his camp.
He boasted that he could expose evidence, including voice recordings, to back his claims and suggested that some security personnel were more loyal to him than to their superiors.
Maha also claimed he had the capacity to kidnap even a sitting governor.
Speaking further, he alleged that he released the corpse of late Rabe Abubakar only because of the individual conducting the interview.
Recall that Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.) died in bandits’ captivity in June 2026, a development that drew widespread attention and concern over insecurity in the region.
BACKSTORY:
Katsina State has remained one of the states hardest hit by banditry and terrorist activities in northwestern Nigeria, with communities frequently facing kidnappings, cattle rustling and deadly attacks.
Over the years, several armed groups operating across Katsina, Zamfara State and Sokoto State have exploited difficult terrains and weak local security networks to establish strongholds, often targeting rural communities and farmlands.
Authorities have intensified military operations and peace initiatives in the region, but many of these efforts have faced setbacks, including allegations of informants leaking security plans to armed groups.
The latest threat from Kachalla Maha comes amid renewed concerns over intelligence compromise within security operations and follows heightened public outrage over the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar in bandits’ captivity earlier this month.
His claims of having insider information have further raised questions about possible infiltration and the broader challenges confronting Nigeria’s fight against insecurity in the northwest.
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