Suspected followers of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji have reportedly abducted 10 passengers and set their vehicle on fire along the Kaura-Namoda-Shinkafi Road in Zamfara State.
Gists9ja understands that the incident occurred just one day after the Defence Headquarters issued a stern warning against Turji, labeling him a “dead man walking” and declaring that he and other terror leaders would not survive beyond 2025.
This latest attack is believed to be a retaliation linked to Turji’s demand for the release of his brother, Baka Wurgi, who was arrested from a hospital bed at Shinkafi General Hospital. Turji had threatened to resume abductions and killings in Zamfara and Sokoto states if his brother was not freed by the end of December 2024.
According to reports, the bandits ambushed the passenger vehicle around 8 a.m. near Kwanar Jalab village, in Zungeru Ward, Shinkafi Local Government Area. The vehicle was traveling from Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, to Shinkafi town.
Local resident Garba Sani stated that the bandits abducted all 10 passengers before setting the vehicle ablaze, marking a troubling escalation in their tactics. He explained, “This is the first time we have witnessed bandits burning a vehicle after abducting people. In the past, they would kidnap individuals along the road, but they never set vehicles on fire after their operations.”
Sani speculated that the attack could be directly related to Turji’s threat, given the timing and his demand for the release of his brother. “As you know, Bello Turji had vowed to escalate violence if his relative was not freed. This attack could be a direct consequence of that threat,” he said.
Dr. Sani Shinkafi, a prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, has repeatedly called on security agencies to act swiftly to neutralize Turji before his threats spiral further out of control. He criticized the military’s inaction, stating, “I am urging the security forces to take immediate action against Bello Turji before he inflicts more harm on innocent citizens. It is an embarrassment that a notorious bandit leader continues to send threats without facing any serious repercussions.”
In response to Turji’s threats, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, addressed the issue during a year-end briefing in Abuja. Buba reaffirmed that Turji’s fate was sealed, stating, “Bello Turji is merely a dead man walking. It would be futile to engage in further negotiations with a terrorist. History shows that those who boasted in the past about defying security forces have now been eliminated. Turji and others like him will share the same fate in 2025—defeat and death. Their time is up.”
The military’s warning reflects ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks in the region and send a strong message to those who continue to threaten the security of Nigeria.