Uπbelievable: Few Days After Announcing Repentance Bandit Kingpin, Kachallah Bugaje, Leads Prayer
A fresh video has surfaced featuring Kachallah Bugaje, a figure long associated with banditry in Northwest Nigeria, leading a prayer session alongside his fighters.
The five-minute footage, obtained by counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, has sparked mixed reactions, with some dismissing it as a calculated attempt at redemption.
In his report on Sunday, Makama revealed that Bugaje, who recently announced he was abandoning criminal activities and adopting the name Zakiru Bugaje, was captured in the video reciting prayers with his men. His declaration comes shortly after he claimed that he and 50 of his followers had renounced banditry, including kidnapping and ransom collection.
In a prior video, Bugaje admitted to kidnapping over 50 people and demanding ransoms ranging from 10 million to 25 million naira. However, he asserted that his group ultimately released the hostages without receiving payments, attributing their decision to a newfound fear of God.
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Expressing remorse for his past crimes, Bugaje urged other bandits to surrender their weapons and follow a path of peace. He also praised Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and encouraged his former allies to reconsider their actions.
The release of this latest video has sparked skepticism, with many questioning the sincerity of his claims. While some view his renunciation as a positive step toward addressing insecurity in the region, others remain unconvinced, suspecting it may be an attempt to avoid accountability.