Bandits: Turji’s Men Abduct 10, Burn Vehicle in Zamfara

Bandits suspected to be loyalists of the notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, have abducted 10 passengers and set their vehicle ablaze along the Kaura-Namoda-Shinkafi Road in Zamfara State.

The attack occurred around 8 a.m. at Kwanar Jalab village in the Zungeru Ward of Shinkafi Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses reported that the armed men ambushed a commercial vehicle en route to Shinkafi town from Gusau, the state capital. All passengers were taken hostage, and the vehicle was subsequently torched.

Residents, including an eyewitness, Garba Sani, believe the attack is linked to a recent ultimatum by Bello Turji. The bandit leader had threatened to resume violence if the military failed to release his brother, Baka Wurgi, who is currently in military custody.

This is the first time we are witnessing this sad event of bandits burning a vehicle after abducting passengers, Sani said. He attributed the attack to Turji’s demand, emphasizing that the bandit leader appears determined to pressure the military into freeing Wurgi.

Turji had issued a warning, vowing to unleash violence in Zamfara and Sokoto states if his brother was not released by December 2024. Wurgi, who had been receiving treatment at the Shinkafi General Hospital, was reportedly taken into custody directly from his hospital bed by military personnel.

In response, Turji threatened to escalate attacks, targeting civilians in retaliation for his brother’s detention. The Defence Headquarters recently addressed Turji’s threats, dismissing them as empty bravado. Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, described Turji as “a dead man walking” and reiterated the military’s resolve to eliminate him and other terrorist leaders before the end of 2025.

Despite the military’s assurances, residents and political leaders in Zamfara have expressed frustration with the ongoing insecurity. Dr. Sani Shinkafi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, urged security forces to intensify their operations against Turji.

This is a slap in the face of the military. The bandit leader continues to send threats while innocent people suffer, Shinkafi stated.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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