Notorious terrorist and bandit leader, Bello Turji, is reportedly living in hiding as military forces continue to neutralize his fighters and destroy his camps in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
While speaking with newsmen on Monday, a spokesperson for Operation Fansan Yamma, a military security outfit in the Northwest, Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, said that the sustained air and ground offensives have significantly weakened Turji’s network.
“Our fighter planes have dealt a heavy blow on the terrorist enclaves in Shinkafi Local Government Area. Many of Turji’s fighters were killed. Turji now lives in holes like a rat,” Lt. Col. Abdullahi said.
The military operation was intensified following threats from Turji to unleash violence on Shinkafi Local Government if his relatives, arrested for alleged terrorism, were not released.
Turji had reportedly launched attacks in the area, kidnapping travellers and causing widespread fear among residents.
However, the military’s swift response has led to the destruction of Turji’s camps and the neutralization of several of his fighters, including another notorious bandit leader, Sani Rusu.
The recent strikes by the air component of Operation Fansan Yamma have dismantled key terrorist strongholds in the region. The military has vowed to continue its offensive until all terrorist elements are eradicated.
Bello Turji has been one of the most notorious bandit leaders in the Northwest, responsible for numerous kidnappings, killings, and attacks on communities.