Bello Turji in ‘panic mode’, relocating frequently — Military

The Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, Major General Warrah Idris, on Wednesday said bandit leader Bello Turji is currently in panic and confusion as intensified military operations close in on him and other armed group leaders in the North-West.

Idris disclosed this while responding to questions from Defence Correspondents who are on a tour to the theatre in Zamfara State.

He noted that Turji has remained elusive but is now under sustained pressure from coordinated ground operations, human intelligence and technology-driven surveillance.

“Based on the most current intelligence received, Bello Turji and others are currently in confusion and panic because of the intensity of our current operations. They are relocating after every few hours, every few days,” he said

Idris dismissed claims that Turji controls any local government area or villages, describing such assertions as propaganda by terrorists who constantly flee from military forces.

“How does a person who does not have a permanent location control an axis or a local government?

“I dare Bello Turji to come out and present a single local government that he is controlling, ” he said.

He added that Turji and other notorious bandit leaders, including Gwaska, Ado Aleru and Dogo Gide, are being actively pursued across the theatre of operations.

“All things being equal, Bello Turji will soon be history in the North-West region,” Idris said, stressing that leaders of armed groups are being tracked through all available intelligence platforms.

The theatre commander also clarified reports about the alleged planned release of 70 bandits, saying no official information or directive was confirming such claims.

“We have not received any circular, letter or formal information regarding the release of 70 terrorists. What we are hearing are rumours, and we consider them fake news,” he said.

Idris warned against the spread of unverified reports, noting that misinformation, including the use of artificial intelligence-generated content, was becoming rampant.

On regional security cooperation, he said the military has strengthened intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries, including Niger and the Benin Republic, to curb cross-border movements of armed groups such as the Lakurawa terrorists.

He revealed that several Lakurawa fighters were killed last month during operations around the Kamba general area, with weapons and motorcycles recovered.