Notorious Bandit Leader "Maha" Terrorizes Katsina Community Following Unmet Ransom Demands. A notorious bandit and kidnapping kingpin, Kachalla Muhammadu popularly known as "Maha" who was responsible for the abduction and eventual death of the late Major General Rabe Abubakar, has plunged Guru village in the Sukuntuni district of Kankia Local Government Area, Katsina State, into total devastation.
Speaking in an interview with JBC Television, the Village Head Son of Sukuntuni revealed that Maha's terror reign is not new. The kingpin has long operated with impunity in the area, entering and exiting at his will without facing resistance from locals or law enforcement.
Community Resistance and Escalation
The situation recently escalated when Maha and his fighters invaded the village. Pushed to their limits by relentless harassment, the villagers mobilized and fought back, successfully killing one of Maha's operatives and chasing the rest out of the community.
Following the clash, local leaders attempted to alert authorities—including the Chairman of Kankia Local Government Area—but no protective action was taken.
In retaliation, Maha imposed a levy of 5 million Naira on the community, demanding payment within one week. Lacking viable income beyond farming and livestock, and with their animals already rustled by bandits, the impoverished residents were unable to raise the sum, forcing many to flee their homes to save their lives.
Three-Day Deadly Rampage
When the payment deadline passed, Maha launched a brutal campaign across three consecutive days:
Saturday: Invaded the village and killed two people, after previously targeting farmers in their fields.
Sunday: Returned the following day and shot seven people to death while burning down seven homes as punishment for non-payment.
Monday: Re-invaded the village and killed five more residents.
In total, 14 people were killed over three consecutive days without any decisive action from the government.
Urgent Appeal for Security Operations
The spokesman appealed directly to the government for immediate intervention, reminding officials that the voters of the Sukuntuni region deserve protection just like any other community.
He urged the deployment of security personnel, noting that the entire stretch from Rimaye through to Soro Daya lacks any presence of Police, Community Watch, or Military officers, despite the daily threat to life. He specifically requested the deployment of Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) to secure the area.