Bello Turji on the Run: New Hiding Spot Revealed in Zamfara

Security analysts believe that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji is currently evading capture in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Zagazola Makama, a renowned counterinsurgency expert, shared the findings in a statement on his X account, citing reports from local sources.

According to Makama, Turji’s loyalists were observed traveling on motorcycles on January 19 and 20, transporting injured members of their group. These bandits were headed toward the Garsa/Kadanya region in Bayanruwa Den, with eyewitnesses confirming that their journey took them through villages like Galadi, Damaga, Rudunu, and Danbenchi.

As the military intensifies its operations in the Northwest, there have been sightings of Turji’s men near Farfaru, Bankamawa, and Rudunu in the Faru District. Makama has revealed that Turji is being sheltered by Jummo Smally, a former enemy-turned-ally, in the Garsa/Kadanya area.

This update follows the surrender of two notorious bandit leaders, Abu Radde and Umar Black, in Katsina State, which highlights the growing pressure on bandit groups due to the military’s intensified operations under Operation Hadarin Daji and Operation Forest Sanity.

The military’s aggressive action has forced some bandit groups to flee, with others choosing to surrender, signaling a potential shift in the security landscape of the Northwest.