Bello Turji, the leader of the notorious bandits, is being tracked and will be expelled very soon, has once more been assured by the Nigerian military.
The Chief of Defence Operations, Major General Emeka Onumajuru, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief, on Monday.
Major General Onumajuru stated that the military is aware of Turji’s current location but that he would not go into further detail.
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“First, I must inform you that Bello Turji and the military have no back and forth relationship.
As I speak, “Beto Turji is hiding, completely in hiding, and the armed forces are tracking him,” Major General Onumajuru said. “The armed forces are tracking him, and very soon he will be eliminated.”
He urged Nigerians to be patient with the Armed Forces, noting that tracking a bandit leadership may take time in some situations, but that Turji’s operation in the country’s northwest would be over.
‘ Don’t pay levy to Turji ‘
A Sokoto State legislator, Honourable Aminu Almustapha Boza, confirmed last week that Turji lived in one of the forests in the Sokoto State’s Isa Local Government Area.
In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the lawmaker, who represents the Sabon Birni Local Government Area in the state House of Assembly, explained that Turji has been collecting taxes from the residents.
However, Major General Onumajuru has urged the people of Sokoto to call Turji’s bluff and refrain from paying the tax, assuring them of the military’s protection.
” Talking about Bello Turji imposing fines, remember I did talk about protecting vulnerable communities. Communities now need to know that the Armed Forces are protecting them, and when they think it’s just a matter of calling anyone who requests protection money or ransom money, to call bluff because the Armed Forces are there to protect you.
Major General Onumajuru remarked, “I want to urge the communities you serve now through your medium not to submit a request for protection levy in any way because we have troops who protect farms and provide space for your normal activities.”
The military has already promised to get hold of Turji, who has long tormented the North-West region.
During Channels Television’s 2024 Year-In-Review programme on December 31, 2024, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, vowed that the Armed Forces would arrest the notorious bandits kingpin.
Gen Musa claimed that the military will only need to find the Turji, who have defrauded and kidnapped residents for a large ransom in the Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi communities.
When asked for an update on Turji, who has been on the run for a while, the CDS responded, “The update is that since he knows we’ve been after him, he has been operating underground and we are conducting operations.”
