A Point of Sale (PoS) operator and motorcycle spare parts dealer in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, Isiyaku Nasiru, has been taken into custody for allegedly assisting a bandit kingpin, Kachalla Muhammadu, in processing cash transactions running into millions of naira.

Nasiru was arrested by the Katsina State Security Watch Corps alongside three others: Abubakar Sayaya, Nura Baka Sati and Ubale Mai Cange.

Trust gathered that the suspects were picked up at different locations in the state between Thursday and Saturday.

The council chairman, Shamsuddeen Muhammad Sayaya, who confirmed the arrests to Daily Trust, said the suspects were linked to the network of the notorious bandit kingpin.

He said the suspects were being investigated, stressing that the arrests could provide security agencies with information capable of exposing the structures allegedly sustaining criminal activities in the area.

Nasiru was allegedly used as part of a financial chain through which money linked to Muhammadu was moved to people involved in procuring weapons and other supplies.

Matazu has endured a cycle of killings, abductions, displacement and economic devastation that has transformed once-thriving farming communities into settlements struggling to survive.

The area, once known for its agricultural activities, livestock production, commerce and vibrant communities, has witnessed the gradual abandonment of villages as residents flee attacks and farmers stay away from their fields for fear of being killed or abducted.

Residents told Daily Trust that hundreds of people have been killed or injured over the years, while thousands have been displaced. More than 15 communities have reportedly been deserted or severely affected by the violence, with the crisis spilling into neighbouring local government areas, including Musawa, Kankia, Dutsinma and Kusada.

The abduction of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, brought the severity of the insecurity around Matazu into sharp national focus.

The retired general and his wife, Amina Abubakar, were travelling through the Matazu axis on May 30, 2026, when suspected bandits intercepted their vehicle along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road.

Police and security sources confirmed at the time that gunmen opened fire on the vehicle before abducting the couple. Their driver reportedly sustained gunshot injuries but escaped.

The incident took a tragic turn when the Katsina State Government confirmed that General Abubakar had died in captivity. His wife was later rescued.

From Islamic student to PoS operator

Nasiru, according to information gathered by Daily Trust, is originally from Mashi Local Government Area. He reportedly came to Matazu to pursue Islamic education before eventually settling in the area with his wife and mother and later set up spare parts and PoS business.

A Matazu resident, Babangida Musa, told our correspondent that Nasiru had left the Islamic school years before the death of his teacher and subsequently ventured into the sale of motorcycle spare parts and PoS service.

“Isiyaku (Nasiru) left the Islamic school long before his Islamic teacher died. He had already gone into business, selling motorcycle spare parts and operating POS services,” Musa said, adding that Nasiru’s exit from the school and subsequent involvement in business were known within the community.

According to an interrogation account seen by Daily Trust, Nasiru allegedly received money in cash from Muhammadu through a person identified as Salmanu.

The money was reportedly transferred to one Musa Sani, who allegedly routed it to a gunrunner for the procurement of weapons and other supplies.

Nasiru reportedly appeared in an interrogation recording in which he said the information he provided was voluntary and not obtained under duress. He also reportedly expressed regret over his alleged involvement.

Reports claimed that SaImanu delivered an average of N3 to N5 million cash to Nasiru on a daily basis, which he used to run PoS transactions by giving out cash to local traders and residents who made transfers to his account.

It was alleged that Nasiru would then take his commission and transfer the remaining funds to a bank account belonging to Sani, who then used the money to buy guns, ammunition and motorcycles for Muhammadu.

Sources told Daily Trust that Abubakar, who hails from Sayaya, allegedly confessed he was sent to collect ammunition from Ubale.

He reportedly identified a man identified as Lawal, also known as Yaya, a senior bandit commander working with Muhammad, as the person who allegedly sent him.

Ubale, according to the sources, allegedly confirmed that he handed ammunition to Abubakar on two occasions. He reportedly identified a person named Mustapha as his alleged source.

The accounts point to a possible chain involving several individuals between the source of ammunition and the people allegedly collecting and transporting it.

Another suspect identified in connection with the investigation is Sati, also from Sayaya village, allegedly relocated to Marabar Musawa in Musawa Local Government Area following the attack that left seven people dead in Sayaya community some months ago.

Sati allegedly collected cattle from the bandit leader, sold them on his behalf and performed other errands. He was also allegedly involved in providing food and other logistical support.

Arrest of Nasiru, others shocking – Residents

Residents expressed shock over the arrests because some of the suspects were known to them as businessmen and community members who, until their arrest, were not publicly associated with criminal activities.

A resident of Matazu town, who identified himself simply as Imrana, said Nasiru’s arrest was particularly surprising to many who knew him as a peaceful and trusted person.

Imrana said Nasiru had operated a flourishing business in the community, adding that residents had no knowledge of his alleged connection with banditry until his arrest.

He said the development had forced many residents to reconsider what they knew about individuals within their communities, particularly those whose businesses and social activities appeared legitimate.

Imrana alleged that Nasiru was involved in collecting money on behalf of Kachallah Muhammadu, claiming that the sums involved ranged from N1 million to N5 million almost on a daily basis.

According to him, the money was allegedly collected and subsequently transferred to a suspected gun runner, who allegedly used the proceeds to supply weapons and ammunition to the bandit kingpin.

He said the investigation should trace the alleged flow of money, establish the identities of those who received or transferred the funds and determine whether other people were involved in the alleged arrangement.

“We need to know the extent of their involvement and whether there are other people behind the activities. The investigation should go beyond these four suspects,” he said.

A community leader, Goma, said the arrests had generated widespread confusion among residents, particularly because of the alleged contradiction between the public image of some of the suspects and the allegations against them.

Goma said many residents found it difficult to understand how somebody could allegedly support bandits and at the same time remain within the community, interact with residents and even participate in mourning or sympathising with victims of attacks.

“People are asking how somebody can allegedly be involved in such activities and still be among those mourning the victims whenever there is an attack,” he said.

Goma said the situation should encourage residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies rather than assuming that people were incapable of involvement simply because they were known members of the community.

Another community leader, Rabi’u Muhammad, said residents were interested in seeing whether the investigation would uncover additional individuals allegedly involved in financing, facilitating or supplying materials to the bandit network.

He urged the security authorities to ensure that the investigation was comprehensive enough to expose the structure behind the alleged criminal activities.

Kachalla Muhammadu’s enclaves

The name of Kachalla Muhammadu has repeatedly featured in bandit attacks on Matazu and surrounding communities.

Security operations have increasingly focused on forest locations allegedly used as hideouts by criminal groups.

During a clearance operation under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, troops reportedly targeted enclaves around Maharba and Karaduwa in Matazu.

The military said one of the enclaves was linked to Kachalla Muhammadu. Items reportedly recovered during the operation included an RPG-7 tube, a motorcycle, mobile phones and other materials.

Days later, troops reportedly killed a suspected bandit identified by the Army as “Smally,” described as a lieutenant to Muhammadu.

Weapons, ammunition and motorcycles were also reportedly recovered during the operation.

Between September 14 and 16, troops reportedly neutralised two suspected terrorists along the Sayaya–Karaduwa road, recovering ammunition, a motorcycle and other items.

The military operations have provided a security response to the crisis, but residents say sustained security presence and the restoration of livelihoods are necessary if communities are to recover.

‘Thorough investigation should be carried out’

Meanwhile, a Katsina-based security expert, Abubakar Ibrahim, said the arrests should be followed by a thorough and evidence-based investigation before the suspects are prosecuted.

Ibrahim said the suspects should be accorded due process, stressing that allegations alone should not be treated as proof of guilt.

He said investigators should establish the individual roles of the suspects and determine whether there was evidence linking them to the alleged financing, arms procurement or other forms of support for bandit activities.

According to him, where evidence establishes criminal responsibility, the appropriate authorities should prosecute the suspects before a competent court.

He said the arrests should also send a strong warning to individuals who might be tempted to support banditry directly or indirectly.

“People should understand that supporting criminals is not different from helping them to continue their activities. Anyone found to have knowingly facilitated criminal operations should face the law after due process,” he said.

Ibrahim said the fight against banditry should not focus exclusively on armed fighters operating in forests, arguing that those who allegedly provide money, weapons, transportation, intelligence and other forms of assistance also form part of the wider security challenge.

He therefore urged security agencies to follow the financial and logistical links allegedly connected to the suspects in order to determine whether the network extends beyond the four people arrested.

The security expert said collaboration between communities and security personnel remained essential to identifying individuals allegedly supporting criminal activities and preventing them from exploiting local communities.

When contacted on the arrests, Yusuf Ibrahim Safana, the Special Assistant to Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda on Security, said he would verify the information and get back to Daily Trust. However, he had not responded or returned the call as of the time of filing this report.

Also, when contacted, the spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Sadik Aliyu, said he was not aware of the reported arrests.

“I am not aware of the arrests. I am not in Katsina,” Aliyu told the Daily Trust.

The police spokesperson, however, promised to investigate the report and establish the facts before providing an official response.

“I will investigate and get back to you after verifying the information,” he said. (Daily Trust)