Bandit Leader Dogo Isah Killed In Clash With Repentant Bandits In Kaduna

A notorious bandit leader responsible for a series of criminal activities in Kaduna State, Kachalla Dogo Isah, was killed on January 7, 2025, during a violent confrontation with a group of repentant bandits in Kachia Forest.

Naija News gathered that the deadly clash erupted when Isah’s group attempted to raid a cattle camp run by a former bandit leader, Kachalla Musa, who had recently joined a government-sponsored peace initiative.

The raid quickly escalated into a fierce gun battle, leaving Dogo Isah and two of his men dead.

Security expert Zagazola Makama confirmed the details of the clash, noting that the gunfight broke out as Isah’s group attempted to steal livestock from the peaceable camp.

Makama siad, “Dogo Isah, who had a notorious reputation for terrorizing residents of Kachia and parts of Kajuru Local Government Areas (LGAs), was the cousin of Tukur Sharme, another bandit leader killed in a similar fratricidal clash in September 2024.

“The clash that led to Dogo Isah’s death resulted in him and two of his gang members being killed during the exchange of gunfire with Kachalla Musa’s group.

“Kachalla Musa and his faction had recently embraced the peace initiative offered by the government and security agencies in Kaduna State, following a meeting with stakeholders in Tsohon Gaya village in Chikun LGA.

“The initiative, which encourages former bandits to surrender and cease hostilities, had been extended to Dogo Isah, but he rejected the offer and continued his criminal activities, including cattle rustling and violent attacks.

“Dogo Isah’s group has been responsible for several high profile attacks in the region, including the deaths of members of the 305 Artillery Demo Regiment in Makaranta Forest, Kagarko LGA, and an officer of the defunct Sect 4 OPWP near Gadan Mallam village along the Abuja-Kaduna road in 2022.

“More recently, Dogo Isah’s group attacked Nigerian Navy personnel at a checkpoint in Kujama on January 5, 2025, resulting in the deaths of two Navy personnel and the theft of their AK-47 rifles.”

Dogo Isah had been a significant security menace in the region, with a history of cattle rustling, assaults on security forces, and other criminal activities in the Kachia and Kajuru areas.

His persistent resistance to peace efforts had only deepened the instability in the region.

His death is seen as a notable blow to banditry in Kaduna, though it serves as a reminder of the ongoing threats faced by those attempting to leave their life of crime behind.