Malam Abba: Inside story of Kaduna’s mysterious gang leader

When a Police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was attacked and burnt in Galadimawa, Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State in late September 2020, fingers pointed to the infamous, uncanny bandit and alleged terrorist, Malam Abba. In January, when a faction of bandits attacked locals returning from the market along the Dogon Dawa-Birnin Gwari road, to the amazement of many, residents said it was Malam Abba’s lieutenants who rescued the victims, went after the bandits and killed them.

In the last few years, the name Malam Abba has become a resounding echo among residents of Kaduna’s major flashpoint areas, especially Birnin Gwari and Giwa local government areas where banditry has become frequent. Malam Abba is a name many say make other bandits around deadly Kuduru Forest shiver, often, the name is also used as leverage by some communities to wade off attacks.

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Daily Trust  gathered that not much beyond the name and reputation is known about Malam Abba who, residents say, resides within the enclave of Kuduru forests, west of Birnin Gwari LGA. The forest is said to share boundaries with Chikun, Igabi and Giwa local government areas; Kaduna’s most notorious bandit hideouts. While Malam Abba, his lieutenants and several other bandits call Kuduru forest home, several other criminals lay low in the larger Kamuku National Park which crisscrosses five northern states of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara and Kebbi states. With a large chunk of Kamuku situated within western boundaries of Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari LGA, surrounding communities as well as the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari road and Kaduna-Abuja road have in recent times become some of the most dangerous routes in northern Nigeria.

Shehu Iliya of Birnin Gwari town told Daily Trust on Sunday that there are different factions of bandits around Kamuku and Kuduru forests but those loyal to Malam Abba appear foreign due to the colour of their skin. “They do not attack communities but have issues with those in authority,” he told our correspondents.

“Malam Abba has made it clear that he will not attack the locals and has allowed villagers around the Birnin Gwari axis to go to their farms unhindered. There are times his men have driven out bandits who attack villages,” he said.

They are strange, heavily armed but do not harass us — Villagers

Very few people have come in direct contact with Malam Abba, but his name has reached almost every facet of Giwa and Birnin Gwari local government areas. Residents who live in communities near Kuduru forest confided in Daily Trust on Sunday that security agents and the Kaduna State government know of Malam Abba’s existence. They claimed his uncanny and mercurial nature is also why various factions of bandits either fear him or don’t trust him.

Malam Abba’s major base is said to be within the Birnin Gwari axis of Kuduru forest but he has camps within the Damari and Saulawa axis where communities around the area are said to often enjoy his protection. Security sources told our correspondents that the alleged terrorist moves around on motorcycle, often between the forests of Galadimawa, Kuduru and villages in Birnin Gwari such as Randagi, Kuyello and sometimes even villages in Niger State.

A resident of Birnin Gwari told Daily Trust that Malam Abba’s activities are often concentrated along Dogon Dawa – Birnin Gwari axis, adding that “If he hears of a bandit attack, he kills the bandits. Mostly his dispute is with government and law enforcement agents not with the people.”

“Surprisingly, instead of terrorizing us, they protect us against other bandits. Just recently, some of our villagers who were returning from the markets were attacked by bandits along the Dogon Dawa-Birnin Gwari road and Malam Abba’s lieutenants rescued them.

“They killed one of the bandits and when they saw the corpse, they recognized his gang and so went after them and killed about four others in their hideouts. This very incident happened around old Kuyello to Kwasakwasa area in Birnin Gwari,” he said.

Speaking about his encounter with Malam Abba’s gang, another resident of Birnin Gwari said: “They are well armed but do not intimidate us, they do not steal from us and when they buy foodstuff at the market, they try not to shortchange any trader.”

He said even though he has never seen Malam Abba, his name and reputation as the people’s protector against bandits precedes him. “The people are allowed to go about their business without interference from his group but I on the other hand have my doubts about Malam Abba’s motives,” he said.

From the Giwa axis, a resident of Galadimawa told Daily Trust that Malam Abba’s lieutenants occasionally visit their communities alternately during market days and sometimes on Fridays. “They carry flags on their motorcycles, they wear turbans and they are heavily armed but they have never assaulted us. We are more fearful of other bandits than Malam Abba and his people,” he said.

Fatika district in Giwa LGA has suffered drastic security challenges with residents identifying at least five villages including Nasarawan Sabon Sara, Hayin Kobo, Rafin Kaji, Marke, Bataron Giginya as completely sacked while dozens of others villages are considered ‘danger zones’ with bandits operating freely.

Daily Trust however gathered that unlike certain communities around Birnin Gwari that enjoy Malam Abba’s protection, residents of Fatika say Malam Abba’s group have never intervened on their behalf against bandit attacks.

We don’t want anyone lording over our lands – Traditional leaders

Speaking of Malam Abba, a traditional leader in Giwa LGA said he arrived Kuduru forest some six years ago when his Fulani friends had a clash with soldiers and their camp was burnt down. “Those that fled called on Malam Abba to come to their assistance and since then, he never left. Some say he is not Nigerian but others say he is from Adamawa or Borno State,” he said.

The fear of most residents is that Malam Abba may have a hidden agenda.

“He may seem kind to the people now but we don’t want any warlord lording over our lands. Where there is a vacuum in governance and security structure, people like Malam Abba take advantage of the situation. With time, Malam Abba may become too powerful and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Right now, he is trying to win the people’s loyalty,” the traditional leader said.

Another traditional leader in Birnin Gwari told Daily Trust that certain people were worried about the presence of Malam Abba and his gang especially since not much is known about his past. “We only know that he came here a few years ago. We also know that they are well armed and sometimes attack bandits but there are also security reports that they are members of Boko Haram,” he said.

The traditional leaders said even though there have been reports of how Malam Abba’s gang rescued villagers from the hands of bandits, their activities and motives is shrouded in secrecy. “We don’t know their mission or where they are getting their arms from. We have informed the state government and security agents about their activities because we are worried that they may become too powerful and turn on us someday.”

He is Boko Harm member, top on our wanted list — Police

Daily Trust gathered that in February 2020, security agents had carried out a coordinated covert operation aimed at targeting Malam Abba and his lieutenants but the alleged terrorist was said to have escaped with injuries. Security sources tell our correspondent that intelligence reports point to the fact that Malam Abba is a member of Boko Haram and had fled to Kaduna from Maiduguri in Borno State. Security sources confided to Daily Trust on Sunday that among Malam Abba’s gang are foreigners, and intelligence indicate that he operates with external support.

“We have made several attempts on him but he has survived. There are fears that he is attempting to woo the villagers to join his sect. By protecting them, he is trying to win their confidence but all this is an attempt to win their hearts and gain their trust,” he said.

A security analyst, Captain Abdullahi Umar (rtd), corroborated this when he advised that the danger in allowing warlords like Malam Abba wield so much power among locals is that he will not only win their trust but also coax them for recruitment. Umar said: “It may seem that the warlord is serving the interest of the people by protecting them from bandits, but ultimately such people cannot be trusted. Just because a person is training a hyena doesn’t mean the hyena will not someday eat his children.”

When contacted regarding their position on Malam Abba, Kaduna State Government through the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, did not respond to calls, text messages and WhatsApp. However, Kaduna State Police command confirmed knowing about the existence of Malam Abba but said the warlord is a suspected member of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

The Police Public Relations officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said he could not divulge further information on the alleged terrorist but confirmed that he was on the command’s wanted list.