Wanted Kingpin Kachalla Maha Claims Nigerian Military Operatives Are His 'Boys'

A notorious terrorist leader, Kachalla Maha, who stands accused of orchestrating numerous deadly assaults across communities in Katsina State and is allegedly linked to the killing of General Rabe Abubakar, has made audacious claims in a widely circulated audio recording. In the recording, Maha boasts that members of Nigeria's security forces, specifically those deployed to confront him, are covertly working for him and supplying him with critical operational intelligence from within government circles.

The audio, believed to capture the terrorist commander speaking in Hausa with a government-affiliated individual addressed as "Comrade," reveals Maha's assertion that he receives advance details on military operations, including strategic plans originating from the Presidency. "I swear to God Almighty, all the security forces being sent to attack my camp are my boys," Kachalla Maha declared during the conversation. "They inform me anytime they are coming."

This recording starkly highlights the profound challenges of insecurity, distrust, and the alleged infiltration of state security structures by armed groups perpetrating violence in parts of Northern Nigeria. Throughout the discussion, the government official repeatedly implored the terrorist leader to embrace peace and cease the destructive killings plaguing communities across the state. "Well, God knows," the Comrade stated. "Look at the efforts and struggle I have been making so that peace can return to this area after everything that happened. But you hardened your heart and refused."

However, Kachalla Maha responded with dire threats of widespread violence, pledging to unleash further attacks on villages surrounding Katsina if the government fails to meet his demands. "What you’ve seen so far is only a little," Maha warned. "I swear by the greatness of God, if this is how things are going to be, if this is how the government will behave without justice, then what I’ve decided is this: I will go through all the villages around and capture and kill them all." He continued, "You heard what I already did. Whether they are women or government agents…" Interrupting him, the Comrade questioned, "What benefit do you gain from killing someone? What exactly do you gain?"

The terrorist leader defended his actions by accusing security forces of harassment, extortion, destruction of homes, and seizure of livestock. "What benefit?" Maha retorted. "People are constantly being chased, harassed, and fined. Have you ever seen a situation where instead of reconciliation they seize people and their property?" He added, "Right now, they’ve sent security agents who are roaming around uselessly. When you arrested my boys, did I refuse to release those people? I didn’t refuse. But I have captured others, and I swear to God I will show the whole world. I still haven’t started dealing with the government properly yet. There are still people I’m targeting and planning to capture."

Maha further alleged that security operatives were attacking civilians and destroying cattle. "Since these security agents have come and are destroying homes and driving people away, and they’ve even shot our cattle, then I have no choice but retaliation," he asserted. "They have destroyed our property, so we will also destroy theirs. Why should they come and harass people, loot them, and burn our houses? Everybody knows what happened wasn’t fair."

The Comrade again challenged the justification for the killings, asking, "Those people you are killing, what offence did they commit?" Maha responded by accusing residents of collaborating with security operatives. "Their offence? They were the ones who called and reported us," he claimed. "They pointed out where the women were hiding. They are the reason the women were killed." When asked about the source of such intelligence, the terrorist leader revealed the existence of informants allegedly embedded across communities and security structures. "I have guarantees. People from their own town informed us," he stated. "You know very well that throughout this area we have our own informants. We don’t just attack people without certainty. Those people in Musali were specifically involved."

The government-linked figure pleaded with him to halt the bloodshed. "Please, fear God. These killings everywhere will never bring a solution," he urged. But Maha responded bitterly, "You people are only after money." The Comrade then insisted on fair justice, warning that selective treatment was exacerbating the crisis. "If justice is done for me, even if everyone else suffers injustice, I won’t complain. As long as justice is done," the Comrade affirmed.

Kachalla Maha then made one of the most alarming disclosures of the conversation, alleging widespread compromise among security officers. "Tell me honestly before God: among the security officers I talk to, is there any who doesn’t secretly give me information or work with one side or another?" he questioned. "Everything that happened shows you people only defend your own side. If your advice had been respected, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad. But your people failed, and when complaints are taken to the authorities, nobody listens. So who should I turn to?" The Comrade countered that authorities stopped listening because the terrorist group repeatedly rejected peace initiatives. "Do you know why our complaints are ignored?" he asked. "Because you refused every attempt at peace. We discussed with you how things should be handled, but you rejected it all. If you had cooperated, all this violence would have stopped."

Maha, however, redirected the conversation back to complaints over seized cattle and the arrest of one of his associates identified as Aminu. "Tell me for God’s sake, why were Aminu and my livestock seized? On what grounds?" he demanded. "I asked repeatedly but nobody would answer me. They arrested my boys too. I swear by God, if Aminu is not released, then only God knows what will happen. Even if they send 1,000 soldiers, I am not afraid. I have already crossed the point of fear. Let them come if they want." The Comrade again warned him that God would judge his actions. "Don’t you think God is displeased with what you are doing? God is not happy with these actions," he said. But Maha dismissed the warning. "God is displeased? Who created me? God. And the people I fight, who created them? God," he replied. "Everything is in God’s hands. I was wronged. If I’m the one in the wrong, may God punish me. If they wronged me, may God give me justice."

He then threatened widespread attacks during the farming season if his demands were not met. "But if my cattle are not returned, I swear these local governments will never know peace during farming season," he declared. "I no longer care about conflict or chaos." The conversation later took a disturbing spiritual turn as the Comrade continued urging repentance. "What I’m trying to do is advise you to fear the God who created you," the Comrade said. Maha shot back: "Fear God? Then why were my boys arrested? Why was my property seized? Explain that to me first." When the Comrade reminded him about seeking God’s mercy, Maha rejected the appeal entirely. "Forget that nonsense," he said. "God’s mercy is not nonsense," the Comrade responded. "Mercy? I ran away from mercy long ago," Maha replied. "So you don’t want God’s mercy?" the Comrade asked. "No, I don’t. Go and tell God I said so," Maha answered coldly. The Comrade replied: "God is with both you and me. He sees everything we do." Maha continued: "Mercy is not in human hands; it is in God’s hands. Everyone will eventually die. Maybe the person you see as a hardened criminal today may still be better before God than others." The Comrade then appealed emotionally for the terrorist leader to repent. "We are all sinners, yes," he said. "But I want you to enter Paradise. I want you saved, even if I myself end up in hell." Maha softened briefly, replying: "No, don’t say that. May both of us receive God’s mercy." The government-linked figure continued pleading with him to stop the killings. "I swear, if you repent today and stop these killings so people can live peacefully, then whatever judgment God gives me, I will accept it gladly," he said. But Maha insisted.