A 21 years old notorious bandit leader, Salisu Mohammed, popularly known as Dogo Saleh, has been killed by his own gang members during a fierce gun battle with operatives of the FCT Police Command.
As gathered, the incident occurred during a follow-up raid at a known bandit hideout in Kwasau Forest, Kagarko LGA, Kaduna State, a day after his arrest.
Dogo Saleh, identified as a hitman for criminal gangs operating in Rijana Forest, Kaduna State, had been linked to multiple kidnappings and killings along the Kaduna-Lokoja-Enugu highway.
The FCT Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, revealing that police, acting on intelligence, arrested Dogo Saleh on March 3 in Gidan Abe Forest while he was en route to Bwari Area Council, FCT.
During the initial encounter, operatives recovered an AK-49 rifle, two magazines, 60 rounds of live ammunition, and N3M suspected to be ransom proceeds.
However, during the subsequent raid on the hideout, the gang ambushed the operatives in an attempt to free their leader.
Adeh said, “The operatives swiftly engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle, displaying superior tactical expertise and resilience. The bandits were ultimately overpowered and forced to flee into the forest with severe gunshot wounds. The suspect sustained fatal gunshot wounds inflicted by his own gang during the crossfire. He was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital, where he was confirmed dead.”
Adeh disclosed that Dogo Saleh was responsible for several high-profile crimes, including the abduction of a police officer’s family and the killing of two security personnel in a January 5, 2025, attack at Kujama Market, Kaduna.
Other attacks linked to him include the kidnapping of individuals in Kyauta Village, Chikun LGA (two years ago), Kike Village (one year ago), Bagada Village (five months ago), a village near Kaduna Refinery (one year ago), Karuga Village, Chikun LGA (one year ago), Bagado Village, Chikun LGA (eleven months ago), and Dan-Bushiya Village (two years ago), with millions of naira collected in ransoms in each case.
According to the PPRO, further investigations revealed that Dogo Saleh’s gang collaborated with the Ansaru terrorist group to procure weapons.
Adeh stated that the gang’s hierarchy included Boka, the overall commander; Sharmi (surname unknown), deputy; Dogo Saleh, assistant; and Gudan, an assistant who operated a sub-camp in the forest—all of whom have been eliminated in separate operations.
She said, ‘The bandits’ hideout was successfully dislodged. One officer, the Inspector of the FCT Anti-Kidnapping Unit, sustained minor injuries and has since been treated and discharged. No other casualties were recorded”.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, commended the officers for their bravery and assured residents of continued operations to apprehend fleeing gang members.
He urged the public to report suspicious activities via police emergency lines.
