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Tag: Bello Turji

  • Bello Turji on the run, many terrorist commanders killed – Defence Minister

    Bello Turji on the run, many terrorist commanders killed – Defence Minister

    The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, has said that the notorious terrorist leader, Bello Turji has been on the run as a result of sustained offensives by the troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in recent time.

    Badaru stated this during a Ministerial Briefing on the activities of the ministry on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that troops also killed several key terrorist leaders such as Maza Barume Madaro; Kachalla Alhaji Dati; Bani Wala Burki; Kachalla Dogo Kwaden; Chairman Hanazuma; Kachalla Bandiyo; and Maiyara Madaci.

    Others killed include Alhaji Karki; Kachalla Makore; Zakiru and Okachalla Azarailu.

    According to him, troops are neutralising these bandits by the day, and the leaders are going down by day. And they are on the run.

    “Recently, there has been a renewed impetus to all our operations across the country, translating into commendable achievement, specifically in the Northeast.

    “Inspote of the  recent short-lived desperation of the terrorists, troops have responded excessively and turned a devastating blow across the theatres,’’ he said.

    Badaru assured Nigerians of the commitment of the military to address all the prevailing security challenges, adding that they were doubling their intelligence to nip them in the bud.

    He said that Nigeria’s security challenges were deeply rooted in decades-long social and political fractures, economic dislocation, transnational borders influence, and global terrorism metrics that continue to mutate beyond classical military doctrines.

    “Accordingly, addressing those threats requires a multifaceted approach, combining military efforts with social and economic development, regional cooperation and remorse governance, to ensure lasting peace and stability.

    “President Bola Tinubu’s firm directive, that ‘Enough is Enough’, signals enforcement of political will, which also charges us to double our effort in collaboration of all stakeholders towards overcoming the security challenges in this nation.

    “Thus, under the leadership and direction of the President, the Ministry of Defence has coordinated joint efforts through intelligence sharing, coordinated various kinetic and non-kinetic efforts to defeat the insurgents,’’ he said.

  • Bello Turji fines Sokoto communities N22m over slain bandit

    Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has imposed a N22 million levy on four villages in Sokoto State following the death of one of his gang members during a military operation.

    TodayPriceNG learnt the fine is also intended to cover the cost of firearms allegedly lost during the raid.

    Aminu Boza, a lawmaker representing Sabon Birni West in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, told journalists that one of the affected villages is Garin Idi, the hometown of Deputy Governor Idris Gobir.

    Boza further revealed that Turji had shifted his base to the eastern part of Isa Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto. “He is just like a businessman who has multiple shops and is going around to supervise them,” Boza stated. He is currently in the eastern part of Isa. That was where the villagers met him for negotiation, and he reduced the money from N25 million to N22 million.”

    The lawmaker criticised the military for not maintaining a sustained presence in the area, leaving villages vulnerable to attacks whenever troops withdraw.

    “I have always criticised the military for not sustaining their operation in the eastern part of Sokoto because anytime they withdraw, it is the villages that bear the brunt,” he said.

    Despite multiple assurances from the Ministry of Defence—whose officials have visited Sokoto several times—Boza lamented that banditry remains a significant threat. He highlighted a recent attack in which six members of the Sokoto Community Guards were killed.

    Boza also revealed that Turji is demanding N250,000 from the family of each of the 13 worshippers abducted in Sabon Birni LGA about two weeks ago. So far, five captives have been released after their families paid the ransom.

    The lawmaker urged the military to intensify and sustain their operations in the eastern part of Sokoto, emphasising that consistent military action is crucial to restoring peace and protecting vulnerable communities.

  • Defence Headquarters Labels Bandit Leader Bello Turji a ‘Coward,’ Says His Days Are Numbered

    Defence Headquarters Labels Bandit Leader Bello Turji a ‘Coward,’ Says His Days Are Numbered

    Bello Turji

    The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader, a coward whose end is near after troops of Operation Fansan Yamma raided his hideouts, killing his son and several of his fighters during clearance operations in Zamfara State.

    In a statement issued by Major-General Edward Buba, the DHQ’s Director of Media Operations, the military highlighted Turji’s desperation as he flees from one location to another, seeking assistance from other bandit commanders.

    “On January 17, 2025, a coordinated operation between troops of Operation Fansan Yamma as well as the air component conducted clearance operations along the Shinkafi, Kagara, Fakai, Moriki, Maiwa, and Chindo axis,” Buba stated.

    “The operations killed scores of terrorists, including notorious terrorist leader Bello Turji’s son, on Fakai high ground, where the terrorists were hiding. The intensity of troops’ firepower resulted in high terrorist casualties and their logistics hub destroyed.”

    The statement also noted that Turji abandoned his son and fighters during the military raid, describing his actions as cowardly.

    “The terrorist leader, Bello Turji, in a gross cowardly act, escaped, abandoning his son and combatants. I want to remind him that his days are numbered,” Buba declared.

    The operation also led to the rescue of kidnapped hostages held by Turji and the destruction of his camps in multiple locations, including Shinkafi, Kagara, and Chindo.

    In a related operation, troops dismantled another terrorist camp led by Idi Mallam along the Zango Kagara Forest, neutralizing three terrorists and arresting three suspected collaborators.

    Recovered items included:

    • Two machine guns
    • One AK47 rifle with a magazine containing 11 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition
    • 61 rustled cattle
    • 44 sheep

    The DHQ reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens nationwide, vowing to sustain the offensive against terrorists.

    “Troops are sustaining the onslaught against the terrorist. Overall, troops continue to demonstrate commitment to the safety and protection of all citizens nationwide,” the statement concluded.

  • Zamfara Governor Confident in Armed Forces’ Efforts to Eliminate Bandit Leader Bello Turji

    Zamfara Governor Confident in Armed Forces’ Efforts to Eliminate Bandit Leader Bello Turji

    Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has expressed confidence in the Nigerian Armed Forces’ ability to neutralize the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, stating that Turji’s “days are numbered.”

    Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Lawal praised the military’s renewed commitment to tackling banditry in the state.

    “I believe Bello Turji is a matter of time, his days are numbered because I can see the commitment from the Armed Forces in terms of taking Bello Turji out,” Lawal said. “In fact, that same axis where the incident took place is actually the axis of Bello Turji. I am confident, I am optimistic, and I believe the Nigerian Armed Forces this time around are ready to take him out.”

    The governor also addressed the recent military airstrike in Zamfara State that tragically claimed the lives of over 16 residents in Tungar Kara, Maradun Local Government Area.

    Lawal clarified that the incident was not intentional and detailed the circumstances leading to the unfortunate casualties.

    “We have been battling issues within the last three days as a result of the airstrike. Let me say this, I have full information on what happened that fateful day, because we made a distress call to the air force in terms of some bandits attacking communities, and they quickly responded, and they were able to neutralize a lot of bandits,” he explained.

    However, he revealed that unintended casualties occurred during a subsequent operation.

    “On the second time when we made the same reports, unfortunately, at that time, there were some what we call the CPGs and some of those communities that came to rescue those under attack, and in the process, they were hit by the air force. I believe it was not intentional. It was one of those things in this kind of situation; sometimes there may be collateral damage, and that was what happened.”

    The governor extended his condolences to the families of the victims and described the measures taken to address the aftermath of the incident.

    “I set up a powerful delegation led by my deputy governor for an on-the-spot assessment and to commiserate with the families of those that lost their lives. In the process, what happened was fully explained, and they quite understood it was not intentional,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has deployed a fact-finding team to investigate the incident.