Salisu Mohammed aka Dogo Saleh, a 21 years old bandits’ kingpin that has been terrorizing Nigerians along the Kaduna, Lokoja and Enugu Highway was earlier in the month traced and arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force, but, after he was captured by the special police security operatives, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Police Command said some of his gang members laid ambush against the police operatives which led to exchange of gunfire, and eventually, the arrested Bandits’ kingpin, Dogo Saleh sustained gunshot injuries from the bullets fired by his gang members who came for his rescue during the gun battle with the police, and he was pronounced dead when he was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The age of the suspected bandits leader may be another pointer that most heinous crimes in Nigeria are committed by underaged children who are often misled into the crime by adults.

This may explain further that since the beginning of the year, when one of the State Governors in the West Africa Country, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State decided to take the war against criminality to the doorsteps of group of suspected criminally minded people known as Babalawo or spiritual native doctors – believed to be the ones luring the underaged children into crime with the magical practice of Okeite, which gives them the believe they can’t be caught and police bullets wouldn’t penetrate them, cases of kidnapping and other crimes apparently have reduced in the South East state.

Our crime reporters observed and reported that the high rate of kidnapping and killings usually prevalent in Anambra State, especially along the Onitsha-Owerri Federal road has come almost to a halt since January 17, 2025 when Governor Soludo went harder on the suspected root causes of crimes in the state, the Babalawos or Spiritual native doctors.

Our Editorial team also observed that the Anambra State Police Command now go to schools and other public places for enlightenment and campaign awareness against crime most especially calling on the residents to stop the every Monday sit-at-home order, but the Biafra secessionist armed groups have continued to issue threats of attack if the weekly sit-at-home is not obeyed until the detained Biafra agitation leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is released.

Interestingly, major arrests made by Anambra State Police Command recently over the kidnapping and subsequent killing of the State House of Assembly Lawmaker, Honourable Justice Azuka indicated that some heinous crimes in the state are committed by underaged children as most of the suspects were mainly 19 years old, indicating, they were already into high profile criminal acts when they were not up to the constitutional age of 18.

Similarly, two of the arrested suspects behind the kidnapping and killing of Honourable Justice Azuka escaped from the police custody in a manner, the Anambra State Police Command believed that the police operatives under whose custody the two suspects escaped have case to answer.

The Police Command through the person of the Command Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga in a TV interview on February 28, 2025, said that, the entire police personnel who went on the operation were arrested and detained because there were more professional ways they could have carried out the operation without going with the escaped suspects.

According to the Punch Newspaper, “a 21-year-old notorious bandit leader, Salisu Mohammed, popularly known as Dogo Saleh, met his end at the hands of his gang members after being arrested by the operatives of FCT Police Command.

Dogo Saleh identified as a hitman for criminal gangs operating in Rijana Forest, Kaduna State, had been responsible for multiple kidnappings and killings along the Kaduna-Lokoja-Enugu highway.

The FCT command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, issued a statement on Wednesday stating that police acting on intelligence conducted a covert operation to intercept Dogo Saleh at Gidan Abe Forest on March 3, while he was en route to Bwari Area Council, FCT.

Adeh stated that during the initial encounter, police operatives arrested Dogo Saleh, recovering an AK-49 rifle, two magazines, 60 rounds of live ammunition, and ₦3 million suspected to be ransom proceeds.

She added that after gathering from the arrested suspect, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command launched a follow-up raid on March 4, 2025, at a known bandit hideout in Kwasau Forest, Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State, where his gang, led by one Abdu Musa, alias “Kanabaro,” had established a major hideout.

She noted that operatives were ambushed by armed bandits attempting to free their leader.

“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 said.

Stating the criminal activities linked to Dogo Saleh, Adeh said he was responsible for 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 Dogo Saleh include: Kyauta Village, Chikun Local Government Area (two years ago) – Two individuals, including a security officer, were kidnapped.

Ransom collected: Millions of Naira. The officer was later killed. Kike Village (one year ago) – A security officer’s wife was kidnapped. Ransom collected: millions of naira.

Bagada Village (five months ago) – Three individuals kidnapped. Ransom collected: millions of naira. Village near Kaduna Refinery (one year ago) – Two men kidnapped. Ransom collected: millions of naira.

Karuga Village, Chikun Local Government Area (one year ago) – One person kidnapped. Ransom collected: millions of naira.

Bagado Village, Chikun Local Government Area (eleven months ago) – Ransom collected: millions of naira and Dan-Bushiya Village (two years ago) – Ransom collected: millions of naira, “ she stated.

Adeh also said his gang was also known for working with the Ansaru terrorist group to procure weapons.

She stated that Boka, the overall commander; Sharmi (surname unknown), Deputy; Dogo Saleh, assistant; and Gudan, an assistant who operated a sub-camp in the forest, had been eliminated in separate operations.

“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,” she added.

Adeh said the FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, praised the officers for their bravery and assured residents of ongoing operations to capture fleeing gang members.

He urged the public to report suspicious activities via police emergency lines”.