Bandits Continue Deadly Attacks as Military Fails to Capture Notorious Leader Bello Turji

Bandits in northern Nigeria have intensified their violent activities despite ongoing military operations aimed at ending their reign of terror. The states of Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina, located in the North-West region, have witnessed a surge in attacks, resulting in numerous deaths and displacements. The Nigerian military has been unsuccessful in capturing or eliminating notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, who has been responsible for many deadly assaults in the region.

Reports indicate that several local government areas in Katsina State, including Batsari, Safana, Faskari, and Danmusa, continue to experience frequent bandit attacks. Residents in these areas are living in constant fear as the bandits wreak havoc on their communities.

In Sokoto State, although no local government area is fully under the control of bandits, the armed criminals maintain a stronghold in several communities, including Isa, Sabon Birmi, Goronyo, Gwadabawa, and Rabbah. The situation has remained dire, with the bandits continuing to assert their dominance over vulnerable residents.

According to a report by Beacon Consulting, a security firm based in Nigeria, between July and September 2024, there were 42 recorded attacks in the North-West, resulting in the deaths of 37 people and the kidnapping of 183 individuals. Despite ongoing military efforts, these statistics reveal the alarming extent of the violence.

In late August, President Bola Tinubu ordered the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, along with other military chiefs, to relocate to Sokoto State in a bid to restore peace to the region. The president also directed the military to capture or kill Bello Turji, who has been at the center of numerous attacks. However, more than a month after this directive, Turji remains at large, and the violence persists.

In a recent development, Turji reportedly imposed a N30 million levy on residents of Moriki town in Zamfara’s Zurmi Local Government Area, offering them protection from attacks in exchange for the payment. This highlights the bandits’ grip on local communities, as they continue to exploit residents who are desperate for safety.

Meanwhile, the bandit attacks in Katsina State continue to claim lives. On Wednesday, five people were killed in separate incidents in Kankara Local Government Area. Bandits stormed Ammarawa village in the early hours of the morning, killing four people and injuring one. In Dan Gani village, another person was killed, and seven others were abducted.

Earlier in the week, on Monday, four individuals were killed, and others injured in an attack on Kukasheka village, also in Kankara Local Government Area. These continuous assaults demonstrate the severe security challenges faced by residents in the region.

Zamfara has not been spared from the violence either. In September, bandits killed eight security personnel near Tazame village in Tsafe Local Government Area. The victims, who included five policemen and three soldiers, were providing security for a road construction company in the area. The district head of Gatawa in Sokoto’s Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Muhammad Bawa, was also killed by bandits while in captivity in August.

Local leaders have voiced their concerns over the worsening security situation. The Chairman of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto, Sharifu Kamarawa, expressed frustration over the activities of bandits in his region, particularly those led by Turji. “The bandits are appointing and deposing village heads in some areas under their control,” he said during a visit by Defence Minister Bello Matawalle. Kamarawa called for the reinstatement of a military camp in Kagara, which had previously brought relative peace to the area.

In Gidan Duro, a village situated between Sabon Birni and Isa Local Government Areas in Sokoto, nearly all residents have fled due to the threat of bandit attacks. The village head, Shauaib Galadima, revealed that he is the only one who still visits the village daily. “Every other person has relocated to safer places such as Sabon Birni,” he said.

Military and security experts have weighed in on the ongoing crisis, with some suggesting that military operations alone may not be enough to end banditry in the region. Security expert Timothy Avele explained that the root causes of banditry, including economic hardship and political instability, need to be addressed. “We can’t expect the military to completely end terrorism and acts of banditry in Nigeria,” he said. “The government must tackle the underlying issues of poverty and poor governance.”

Avele also highlighted the increasing use of digital platforms by terrorists and bandits, noting that Nigeria’s security agencies are lagging behind in addressing the technological advancements of these criminals. He called for increased funding for the security sector to better equip it to deal with the evolving nature of the threats.

Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, echoed similar sentiments. He emphasized that while the military has killed over 300 terrorist leaders and commanders this year, long-term success depends on addressing the factors that fuel terrorism. “Terrorist leaders are hiding like rats, but their time is up,” Buba assured. He added that all military fighter jets, including 12 Super Tucano helicopters, have been deployed in the ongoing war against bandits and terrorists, and significant progress has been made.

Despite these efforts, the failure to capture Bello Turji remains a significant challenge. As the violence continues, communities in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina are left to grapple with the devastating impact of banditry. Many are calling for more effective measures to restore peace and stability to the region.