A notorious bandit kingpin, Kachallah Bammi Yarma, who was imprisoned in Niger Republic in 2015, has been released after completing his sentence.
Now, nine years later, Bammi Yarma has returned to Katsina, a state in northwestern Nigeria.
This development was revealed on Tuesday through a post on X by Zagazola Makama, an expert on counterterrorism and insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin.
Makama described Bammi Yarma as one of the most dangerous bandits in the region. He was apprehended in 2015 during the administration of former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari.
According to the security expert, his capture was a major success in the fight against banditry, as he was caught in Danmusa, Katsina State, smuggling weapons using nine camels.
“At the time, authorities seized 1,000 livestock belonging to his network and disrupted a critical supply chain for bandit operations in the region. He was later convicted and imprisoned by the authorities in Niger Republic,” Makama said.
Makama further disclosed that intelligence sources reported Bammi Yarma’s return to northwest Nigeria, where he had previously led violent attacks, mass kidnappings, and cattle rustling.
His comeback has sparked fear due to his strong influence among bandit networks across Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto states.
“Intelligence sources indicate that top bandit leaders have been paying homage to him, some reportedly gifting him multiple firearms, including five to ten rifles each.
“His re-emergence could significantly escalate violent activities in the Northwest, an area already plagued by insecurity,” Makama warned.
