According to Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, Bello Turji, a notorious terrorist mastermind, is in a desperate attempt to flee Zamfara State due to the military’s unrelenting campaign against terrorists.
Additionally, Musa stated that Turji is shivering after two of his senior commanders, Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu, were eliminated on Thursday night.
He declared this at the CDS Joint Task Force Commanders Conference concluding ceremony in Abuja on Friday.
“Troops moved into Tufan and Mashima villages in a follow-up operation, further pushing armed groups deeper into the forest and dislodging them.
“The security forces also re-entered the Bello Turji area, which had previously been cleaned, as a symbolic move against banditry.
“The remaining areas of his camp, which had been the target of earlier attacks, were destroyed in a last effort to remove him from the area.
“As the pressure increases, reports suggest that Turji and Sani Black are currently in this region frantically looking for ways out,” he said.
The defence chief claimed that there was no indication from the ongoing offensives that the government’s strategy for combating banditry in Zamfara and the larger Northwest had changed.
He stated that the security forces had made it clear to all of the nation’s armed organisations that the days of impunity were over.
“Bandits, terrorists, and criminals have been destroying our nation’s challenging terrain for years. They have established strongholds and conducted lethal raids on towns.
“As troops begin their drip and air assaults continue their precision strikes, the tide seems to be turning, though, as the current operations pick up steam.
“We are working diligently to secure the entire country with special forces from the land, the sea, and the air,” he continued.
The military will keep up its momentum until all terrorist groups are eliminated, Musa reiterated.
“The last three days have been jam-packed with thought-provoking talks, worthwhile information exchanges, and lively debates. This conference has given us the chance to consider our joint endeavours and the obstacles that lie ahead,” he stated.
According to Musa, the conference offered a chance to come up with concepts for guaranteeing the success and efficacy of all cooperative operations.
“The importance of effort, resourcefulness, and the need for the political class to show more commitment to addressing the security challenges are some of the key takeaways.
“Nonetheless, we must encourage a culture of collaboration, cooperation, and synergy among our troops as an armed force. We can maximise our collective effect and accomplish our common goals by removing obstacles, pooling our resources, and utilising one another’s skills,” he said.
Therefore, he continued, “Let us restore the spirit of unity to our respective task forces and incorporate it into our day-to-day operations.”
The CDS urged commanders to recognise the magnitude of the task at hand and to continue being devoted, focused, and committed in all of their endeavours.
He asserted that President Bola Tinubu has tasked them with securing Nigeria and has exhorted them to be creative and adjust to the ever-changing landscape.
He claimed that to successfully combat the new threats, they must constantly evaluate and enhance their strategies, tactics, and capabilities due to the continually changing security landscape.
