In a significant blow to the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, Nigerian Army forces have killed his son during a series of coordinated attacks on his hideouts in Zamfara State.
The operation, which took place in the Shinkafi Local Government Area, targeted key strongholds of the criminal group, dealing a heavy blow to Turji’s network.
According to a report by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the operation was conducted by the troops of Operation Fansan Yanma, a special military campaign aimed at dismantling banditry in the region.
The strikes, involving both ground and air forces, specifically targeted the Fakai area, which has long been a stronghold for Turji and his armed associates.
Intelligence sources revealed that the operation resulted in multiple casualties within Turji’s ranks, including his son and several high-ranking lieutenants.
In the aftermath, the embattled bandit leader could be heard on radio, desperately requesting reinforcements from other prominent bandit chiefs. However, none of them responded, and the military reported that one of Turji’s spies narrowly escaped the operation.
The military’s precise targeting included several camps, such as Zangon Dan Gwandi, Zangon Tsaika, Zangon Kagara, and a school believed to be used by Turji for storing weapons and food supplies.
In a decisive move, the Nigerian Army set the school ablaze, effectively disrupting Turji’s logistical operations.
The successful assault was led by elite special forces, with support from the General Officer Commanding (GOC) and personnel from the Navy’s Special Boat Service (SBS), who were deployed by the theatre command.
Zagazola Makama further noted that intelligence reports suggested Turji was last sighted at Zangon Gebe, surrounded by a group of heavily armed fighters.
With the operation’s success, the Nigerian military has vowed to continue its pursuit of Turji, declaring him a “dead man walking” and promising to bring an end to his reign of terror in the states of Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger.
The military’s latest strike marks a critical phase in the ongoing campaign to eliminate banditry and restore peace to the northern region of Nigeria.
