Suspected armed bandits loyal to notorious kingpin Ado Aleiro have reportedly appointed a new field commander following the death of Kachalla Iliya Mai Rasha, while communities in Zamfara State are allegedly being forced to contribute funds for the purchase of weapons.
The development was disclosed by security analyst Zagazola Makama, who said the move is part of the group’s efforts to reorganise after recent military offensives targeted bandit strongholds across Nigeria’s North-West.
According to Makama, although the identity of the newly appointed commander has not been revealed, emissaries of the gang have allegedly imposed a levy of ₦200,000 on each village in the western axis of Tsafe Local Government Area.
The report stated that the levy is expected to generate about ₦25 million, which the criminal group allegedly intends to use to procure additional weapons and ammunition.
Makama also reported that at least 10 bandit commanders, popularly known as Kachallas, were buried in Kizara village, west of Tsafe, following recent military operations. Several other members of the group were also said to have sustained injuries during the offensive.
Residents familiar with the activities of the armed groups reportedly told Makama that the bandits have complained of increasing difficulty in rustling livestock within Zamfara due to sustained military operations.
According to the report, the criminals now travel to more remote areas in search of cattle because repeated security operations, coupled with years of cattle theft, have significantly reduced the number of livestock available within the state.
“Bandits who return from raids have been telling their local contacts that they now travel much farther into remote areas in search of livestock, claiming that there are few animals left to rustle within Zamfara due to sustained security operations and repeated cattle theft,” the report quoted local sources as saying.
Makama, however, noted that the claims made by residents could not be independently verified.
He added that security sources are monitoring reports of the new leadership structure and the alleged collection of levies from rural communities as part of ongoing intelligence efforts aimed at disrupting the group’s logistics and financing network.
The report further stated that recent operations under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have intensified pressure on bandit groups operating in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states, leading to the reported elimination of several notorious commanders and the disruption of their operational bases.
