The Theatre Commander of Operation Fansan Yamma, Maj.-Gen. Warra Idris, has vowed that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji will soon be neutralised, saying intensified military operations have thrown him and other top bandit commanders into disarray across the North-West. Idris spoke on Wednesday in Gusau, Zamfara State, while briefing defence correspondents during a tour organised by the Defence Headquarters.
According to the commander, recent intelligence indicates that Turji and other bandit leaders, including Gwaska and Nkaremi, are constantly on the move due to sustained military pressure. He said they no longer have stable hideouts and are being actively tracked through coordinated human intelligence and other surveillance platforms. “They are relocating every few hours or days because of the intensity of our operations,” Idris said.
Rejecting claims that Turji controls any village or local government area, Idris described such assertions as propaganda. He said the bandit leader lacks a permanent base and merely launches attacks in remote areas before fleeing. He added that troops are currently pursuing other high-profile bandits, including Dogojide in Niger State, stressing that the military will not relent until they are apprehended.
Idris also said Nigeria is working closely with neighbouring countries to curb cross-border terrorism, citing intelligence-sharing agreements with Niger and Benin Republic. He disclosed that several foreign terrorists were recently intercepted and killed near the Kamba axis, while three major logistics suppliers to bandit groups were arrested in recent days, noting that ongoing investigations are already yielding critical information.
