By Fatima Mukhtar Isah
Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly neutralised several armed bandits during a gun battle with fighters linked to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji in Zamfara State. The clash occurred during an offensive operation said to be aimed at dislodging criminal elements operating in the area.
According to media reports, the troops, believed to be from the 8 Division Strike Force, encountered resistance from the bandits while advancing through a forest corridor associated with Turji’s loyalists. The armed group was said to have launched an ambush, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire.
Despite the attack, the soldiers reportedly overpowered the bandits, killing several of them and forcing others to flee. The operation is seen as part of ongoing efforts by security forces to weaken armed groups responsible for attacks, kidnappings and other violent crimes across Zamfara and the wider North-West.
Although the incident has been reported by several Nigerian news platforms, no detailed fresh official statement from the military was immediately available in the reports reviewed. For that reason, the account remains based on media reports, even as it points to sustained pressure on Bello Turji’s .
