A Point of Sale (PoS) operator and motorcycle replacement parts dealer in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, Isiyaku Nasiru, has been arrested for allegedly enabling a bandit kingpin, Kachalla Muhammadu, to perform cash transactions worth millions of naira.
Nasiru was detained alongside Abubakar Sayaya, Nura Baka Sati and Ubale Mai Cange by the Katsina State Security Watch Corps, Daily Trust said.
It was revealed that the individuals were arrested at different sites in the state from Thursday to Saturday.
Confirming the arrests to our correspondent, the head of the council, Shamsuddeen Muhammad Sayaya, said the accused were connected to the network of the famed bandit boss.
He said the suspects were being probed, adding that the arrests might help the security forces with information that could expose the structures purportedly maintaining illegal activity in the region.
Reports said Nasiru was allegedly exploited as part of a financial chain through which money associated with Muhammadu was transferred to persons involved in purchasing guns and other supplies.
Matazu has seen a sequence of assassinations, abductions, displacement and economic destruction that has reduced once-thriving farming towns to settlements just scraping by.
The area used to be famed for its agriculture, cattle, trade and its lively communities, but settlements are being abandoned one by one as residents flee attacks and farmers shun their fields for fear of being killed or kidnaped.
Our correspondent was told by residents that throughout the years hundreds had been murdered or injured, thousands evacuated.
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The conflict has spilt into nearby local government districts such as Musawa, Kankia, Dutsinma and Kusada, with no fewer than 15 settlements deserted or seriously affected by the violence.
The kidnapping of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former director of defence information, brought the intensity of the instability around Matazu into harsh national focus.
On May 30, 2026, the retired General and his wife, Amina Abubakar, were intercepted by suspected bandits on the Marabar Musawa-Kafinsoli Road as they passed through the Matazu axis.
Gunmen opened fire on the vehicle before abducting the pair, police and security officials said at the time. His driver was apparently shot but managed to flee.
The matter took a terrible turn when the Katsina State government revealed that General Abubakar died in custody. Later his wife was saved.
From Islamic student to PoS operator
Daily Trust learnt that Nasiru is from Mashi Local Government Area.
He apparently travelled to Matazu to study Islamic education, before eventually settling down with his wife and mother and starting a business in spare parts and PoS.
A native of Matazu, Babangida Musa said that Nasiru had left the Islamic school years before the murder of his teacher and then engaged in the sale of motorbike spare parts and PoS service.
Isiyaku (Nasiru) had stopped going to the Islamic school long before his Islamic teacher died. He had gone into business already, selling replacement parts for motorcycles and running POS services,” Musa said, adding that it was known in the community that Nasiru had left the school and gone into business.
“Our correspondent saw an interrogation account, where it was alleged that Nasiru received cash from Muhammadu through one Salmanu.
The money was then said to have been transferred to one Musa Sani, who allegedly funnelled it to a gunrunner for the purchase of firearms and other equipment.
Nasiru was believed to have said in an interrogation recording that the information he gave was voluntary and not obtained under pressure. He was also said to have expressed regret at his suspected role.
It was gathered that SaImanu gave an average of N3 to N5 million cash to Nasiru everyday, which he utilised to conduct PoS operations by giving out cash to local businessmen and locals who transferred money to his account.
It was said that Nasiru would then take his commission and send the rest of the money to an account belonging to Sani who subsequently used the money to buy rifles, ammo and motorcycles for Muhammadu.
Our correspondent gathered that Abubakar, a native of Sayaya, reportedly confessed to have been instructed to pick up ammunitions from Ubale.
He reportedly pointed out a man named as Lawal, also known as Yaya, a senior bandit leader working with Muhammad, as the man who supposedly dispatched him.
Sources said Ubale has allegedly admitted to providing ammo to Abubakar on two occasions. He is said to have cited a person called Mustapha as his claimed source.
The testimonies suggest a possible chain of numerous people between the source of the ammo and the people supposedly collecting and carrying it.
Also linked with the investigation is another suspect named as Sati, also from Sayaya village, who allegedly relocated to Marabar Musawa in Musawa Local Government Area after the attack that killed seven persons in the Sayaya hamlet some months ago.
Apparently Sati received cattle from the bandit commander, sold them for him and did other odd jobs. He also is accused of helping provide food and other logistical support.
Residents shocked over arrest of Nasiru, others
The arrests shocked residents because some of the accused were known to them as businessmen and community members who were not publicly linked to illegal activities until they were arrested.
Many who knew him as a peaceful and trusted person, a local of Matazu town who identified himself only as Imrana, said Nasiru’s detention shocked them.
Imrana said Nasiru used to run a successful company in the town and that the residents knew nothing of his alleged links with banditry until his arrest.
The development has made many people rethink what they know about people in their communities, particularly those people whose enterprises and social activities seemed above board, he added.
Imrana said that Nasiru was involved in collection of money for Kachallah Muhammadu, stating that the amounts collected were between N1 million and N5 million virtually on a daily basis.
He said the money was allegedly collected and then handed over to a suspected gun courier who allegedly utilised the funds to supply firearms and ammunition to the bandit boss.
He said the probe should follow the alleged flow of money, ascertain who received or moved the payments and find out if other people were engaged in the purported plan.
“We need to know how deep their involvement is and if there are other people behind the activities. “The inquiry must go beyond these four suspects,” he stated.
Goma, a community leader, said the arrests had caused significant uncertainty among people, especially because of the claimed contrast between the public persona of some of the arrested individuals and the accusations levelled against them.
Many neighbours did not comprehend how someone could purportedly assist bandits and still live in the town, interact with residents and even join in mourning or sympathising with victims of attacks, Goma added.
“People are asking how can someone be allegedly involved in such activities and still be among those mourning the victims whenever there is an attack,” he said.
“People should be alert and report suspicious activities to security agencies instead of assuming that people were incapable of involvement simply because they were known members of the community,” Goma said.
Another neighbourhood leader, Rabi’u Muhammad, said neighbours were watching to see if the probe will expose other people allegedly funding, supporting or giving supplies to the bandit network.
He encouraged security services to make the probe broad enough to uncover the structure behind the alleged illicit actions.
Kachalla Muhammadu’s territories
Kachalla Muhammadu is often mentioned in connection with bandit attacks on Matazu and the adjacent communities.
Security activities have been focused more and more on forest places reportedly used by criminal gangs as hideouts.
Reports say troops targeted pockets in Matazu surrounding Maharba and Karaduwa in a clearance operation under Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
The military said one of the enclaves was tied to Kachalla Muhammadu. They said they found an RPG-7 tube, a motorcycle, cell phones and other items.
Days later, troops reportedly killed a suspected bandit identified by the Army as “Smally”, who was characterised as a lieutenant to Muhammadu.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of weapons, ammo and motorcycles.
Troops were said to have neutralised two suspected terrorists along the Sayaya–Karaduwa road between September 14 and 16, recovering ammo, a motorbike and other goods.
Military operations have provided a security response to the crisis, but people argue that continuous security presence and the restoration of livelihoods are needed for communities to recover.
“A full inquiry should be carried out.”
Meanwhile, a Katsina-based security expert, Abubakar Ibrahim, said the arrests should be followed with a comprehensive investigation based on evidence before the accused are prosecuted.
“The suspects should be given due process,” Ibrahim added, adding that allegations alone should not be seen as proof of guilt.
He said detectives should identify the particular roles of the accused, and whether there was evidence linking them to the suspected financing, arms acquisition or other types of assistance for bandit activity.
“Where there is evidence of criminal responsibility, the relevant authorities should prosecute the suspects before a competent court,” he added.
He added the arrests must also be a strong warning to those who would be tempted to support banditry directly or indirectly.
“People should know that when you support criminals you are no different from those who support them to keep doing their activities. “Those who knowingly abetted criminal activities must be brought to book, after due process.
“The fight against banditry should not be limited to fighting armed fighters in the forests,” said Ibrahim, adding that people who reportedly give money, weapons, transportation, intelligence and other types of assistance were also part of the wider security challenge.
So he ordered security authorities to follow the financial and logistical links allegedly tied to the accused to see if the network extends beyond the four people apprehended.
According to the security expert, communities and security officials need to work together to identify those allegedly aiding criminal operations, and to prevent them from taking advantage of local populations.
When contacted on the arrests, Yusuf Ibrahim Safana, Special Assistant to Katsina State Governor Dikko Umar Radda on Security, stated he would verify the report. But he has not responded to or returned the call at the time of this story.
Also, the spokesperson for Katsina State Police Command, DSP Sadik Aliyu when reached stated he was not aware of the alleged arrests.
“I don’t know about the arrests. Aliyu, however, assured our journalist that “I am not in Katsina.
But the police spokeswoman assured that the matter would be investigated and facts established before an official reaction is provided.
He answered, “I will check it out and get back to you once I verify the information.”
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