Chief Of Defence Staff Vows To Arrest Notorious Bandit Kingpin Bello Turji Soon

Abuja, Nigeria- The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has pledged that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji will be apprehended soon.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, General Musa expressed confidence in the military’s operations, described Turji as “a deranged individual” whose capture is imminent.

Turji, a well-known terrorist leader, has been responsible for multiple violent attacks across Nigeria’s northwest.

Recently, he reportedly imposed a N30 million levy on the residents of Moriki, a community in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, demanding payment in exchange for protection from future assaults.

General Musa assured Nigerians that the military is closing in on Turji, emphasized that it is only a matter of time before he is brought to justice.

The Defense Chief stated that the issue of levies imposed by Turji and other bandits would soon be resolved.

“Turji is just a deluded individual who thinks he holds power, but I assure you, it’s only a matter of time before we get him,” the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) remarked.

He said that the payment of levies to bandits would also be addressed, as it was their primary source of income.

“Even when they get the money, they have no proper use for it, and they know it’s blood money. This is why we all must work together with the armed forces and security agencies to limit their freedom of movement within our communities.”

He also noted the role of local support in enabling the bandits’ activities. “Please do not provide them with any assistance or information about troop movements. Informants within the communities are a key reason these attacks persist,” he said.

Musa explained that operations in the Northwest have been reviewed and consolidated.

“We have decided to harmonize our operations in the region. Previously, there were separate operations, Operation Hadrin Daiji and Operation Whirl Stroke, but now, like in the Northeast with Operation Hadin Kai, we are creating one unified operation for the Northwest, called Operation Kasar Yamma. This will allow us to synchronize efforts and address the security challenges more effectively.”

He assured that the necessary equipment and resources would be deployed, and the unified operation would be led by a single commander to ensure efficiency.

However, he appealed to citizens to stop supporting the bandits, pointing out that local informants had recently invited bandits to attack military vehicles when they encountered technical difficulties.

“The bandits are trying to assert their presence. In a recent incident, locals alerted them when our armored personnel carrier broke down, and the terrorists came in large numbers. This is why we are urging the public to refrain from aiding them,” he said.