Notorious bandit, relocates to safer place

A notorious bandit, Bello Turji, has reportedly relocated to a safer and conducive environment following the killings of Zamfara bandit leaders during a recent airstrike.

It was reported that Bello Turji released 52 kidnapped victims on January 3, 2022, following his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Bello Matawalle, and Emir of Shinkafi for a cease-fire.

However, while waiting for a response to his letter, an air raid destroyed the bandits’ camp in multiple operations across the region, killing several bandits while others sustained bullet wounds.

It was gathered that peace is gradually returning to the state since the military raided the bandits’ hideouts.

Bello Turji and his men have left their enclave in Fakai forest of Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state to another forest within the Bukkuyum Local Government Area in the south-west of the state.

A source said that the bandits’ leaders, Shehu Bayade, is the spearhead of deadly raids, kidnappings and cattle rustling in Anka and Bukkuyum communities.

He added that Turji’s arrival may be a plan to regroup and reinforce their activities.

“We believe Turji and his boys were invited to that forest. This is because in their own thinking, making the vast forest their abode would make their detection by NAF aircraft harder unlike where they had left,” he said.

The Bandit conflict in northwest Nigeria is an ongoing conflict between the country’s government and various gangs and ethnic militias.