NAF conducts air raid on bandit kingpin Turji’s camp in Zamfara, ‘Scores killed’

By Our Correspondent 

Scores of bandits have been reportedly killed in an operation by troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Zamfara state.

Bello Turji, a bandit kingpin, was said to have escaped.

A source confirmed that the raid took place on Saturday afternoon in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara.

The source said the bandits were at a wedding ceremony, with Turji and his camp in attendance, when the venue was raided.

The number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.

When contacted, Edward Gabkwet, NAF spokesperson, said he had “no comment” on the situation.

In recent weeks, the military has continued to intensify efforts in fighting insurgents and bandits in the country.

According to the intelligence source, the actual number of bandits who were eliminated by the air strikes could not be ascertained, in the dawn operations.

PRNigeria, however, gathered that some bandits who sustained serious injuries attempted to flee, but were ambushed by ground troops.

“Apart from spontaneous operations in Katsina and Zamfara, from December 16 to 17, 2021, strikes were conducted by NAF aircraft at bandits camps in Isa, Sabon Birni axis and East Tozei where several bandits were eliminated while others escaped in disarray.

The development comes weeks after Hassan Nasiha, deputy governor of Zamfara, said Turji has embraced peace overtures by the government.

Nasiha had said the bandit kingpin is no longer attacking residents, but “unrepentant bandits”.

He said Turji’s repentance had brought peace to Birnin Magaji, Shinkafi and Zurmi LGAs in Zamfara.

Meanwhile, the Zamfara committee for the prosecution of bandit-related offences had said Turji must publicly surrender his arms before anyone can be sure he has embraced peace.

“As far as I am concerned, I know that he has embraced peace but I cannot say that he has repented because if he has repented, he has to surrender all his arms and ammunition, come to the government and submit his arms like what other repentant bandits did,” Abdullahi Shinkafi, chairman of the committee, had said.