Nigerian troops have apprehended the second-in-command to notorious bandit leader Kachalla Auta, along with his wife, during an intelligence-driven operation in Gombe State.
The suspects, identified as Bala, also known as “Pakapaka,” and his wife, Zulaha Bala, were reportedly tracked and arrested after fleeing from Dajin Madam Forest in Plateau State.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama disclosed the development in a post on X, citing intelligence sources. He said the operation followed sustained surveillance and coordinated tracking efforts targeting members of the criminal network attempting to evade capture.
The arrested suspects are currently in custody, where they are undergoing interrogation to determine their roles within the group and possible links to other criminal cells operating within and beyond the region.
In a related operation, troops carried out follow-up patrols around Bayar village in the Duguri axis after receiving intelligence that the bandit leader had moved into the area. However, no contact was established during the search.
Security sources added that troops have continued to maintain a strong presence through persistent patrols aimed at restricting the movement of criminal elements and dismantling their networks across Plateau, Taraba, and neighboring states.
