By Editor
A suspected gun runner has gone missing in Katsina State after allegedly collecting ₦95 million from a bandit leader with a promise to deliver high-grade firearms. The incident was said to have occurred in Matazu Local Government Area and has since drawn wide attention online because of the unusual nature of the transaction.
The development was made public by Abdullahi Aliyu, popularly known as General, the lawmaker representing Musawa/Matazu Federal Constituency. Speaking in an interview with NTA Hausa, Aliyu said the intermediary received the money and has not been seen again since the payment was made.
According to the lawmaker, the deal was meant to procure weapons for a bandit faction operating in the area. The suspect reportedly assured the group that the firearms would be supplied within a short period, but failed to deliver after taking the cash.
Aliyu linked the failed deal to a breakdown in a fragile truce. He alleged that a feared bandit leader identified as Kachalla Maha pulled out of existing peace agreements following the disappearance of the middleman and the loss of the ₦95 million.
Since the fallout, the lawmaker claimed that communities in the Matazu axis have come under increased pressure. He said the bandit faction has intensified levies and resorted to livestock-based extortion in vulnerable villages, leaving residents struggling to cope.
The allegations have heightened security concerns across parts of Katsina, where residents already contend with bandit attacks, kidnappings and movement restrictions. Local leaders say the loss of trust between the armed group and intermediaries could make negotiations even harder.
News of the scam spread quickly on social media, where many Nigerians expressed surprise that a suspected criminal was defrauded in an illicit deal. Comments ranged from mockery to concern that such large sums are circulating for arms purchases.
Others questioned the details of the report. As of now, security agencies have not issued an official statement confirming the alleged ₦95 million scam, the identity of the missing suspect, or the claims about Kachalla Maha’s withdrawal from peace talks.
The incident has reignited discussions about the illegal arms trade and its role in sustaining banditry across Nigeria’s North-West. Analysts note that when deals within criminal networks collapse, civilians often bear the cost through higher extortion and reprisals, a pattern communities in Matazu say they are already experiencing.
About The Author
