Notorious Zamfara State bandit kingpin, Bello Turji has attacked military forces at Yar Dolen Kaura village along Shinkafi-Kauran Nadmoda way yesterday September 28, 2022.
Turji had vowed to carry out devastating reprisal attacks following recent aerial shelling of his residence by Nigerian military fighter jets in Fakai, Shinkafi LGA and other hidden fortresses in Zamfara forests.
Hundreds of the notorious bandit leader’s foot-soldiers were exterminated. Reports indicate that two military vehicles were burnt to ashes, and some personnel sustained injuries.
News Central reported on September 19, that Nigerian Air Force (NAF) troops, acting on intelligence on the convergence of bandits at Turji’s home, shelled the locations using two fighter jets on Saturday afternoon.
They had gathered for the naming ceremony of a baby born to Turji’s family. Turji and most of his close associates escaped the attack, having left the residence to observe the afternoon prayer (zuhr) just before the strikes.
“He (Turji) directed that they should observe the prayers. Those who didn’t leave for the prayers were hit by the bombs,” a source in Shinkafi mentioned The escape on Saturday was the second time the bandit leader had escaped such an onslaught.
In December 2021, a NAF bomb targeted at his hideout hit some of his fighters, wounding many and killing at least one person.
The bomb was said to have been dropped moments after Turji had left his house. The attack on Turji is suspected to have been made possible through information provided by his arch-rivals from nearby Maniya community. Turji has for long being in a fierce rivalry with the Maniya gang, with the two sides clashing on several occasions.
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, said the military “will continue to maintain the heat” on the bandit groups.
“Operations are going to be sustained both by air and ground troops. Government institutions have a constitutional responsibility to keep the environment safe and that we must do,” he added.