Kaduna State Government says the suspected mastermind behind the abduction of four Catholic seminarians of Good Shepherd Major Seminary has been killed in a clash with a rival gang over a large herd of rustled cattle.
The seminarians were taken hostage on January 9, 2020. While three were released, one of them was later found dead.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Samuel Aruwan confirmed in a Monday statement that the suspect Nasiru Kachalla was killed in a forest around the boundaries of Kajuru-Chikun local government areas of the state.
The commissioner said Mr Kachalla was suspected to be responsible for several criminal acts.
“He was the mastermind of the 9th January 2020 kidnapping of Seminarians of Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, and the 24th January 2020 kidnapping of Mrs Bola Ataga and her two children. The criminals later killed one of the seminarians, Michael Nnadi and Mrs. Ataga before releasing her children,” Aruwan said.
“Kachalla’s criminal gang was also responsible for the kidnap of six students and two teachers of Engravers College, in Kakau village of Chikun local government on 3rd October 2019.
“While Kachalla was being pursued, security agents arrested three members of his gang, Tukur Usman, Shehu Bello and Mustapha Mohammed in April 2020.”
Aruwan said Governor Nasir El-Rufai appealed to residents of Tsohon Gaya, Sabon Gaya, and other communities whose relatives are missing to remain calm.
