According to a report by security analyst and counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama, notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has been sighted in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Makama shared details on his X account, stating that Turji’s loyalists were seen moving injured individuals on motorcycles on January 19 and 20, heading toward the Garsa/Kadanya area in Bayanruwa Den.
Residents in the region noted that the bandits traveled through several communities, including Galadi, Damaga, Rudunu, and Danbenchi. Additional sightings of Turji’s men were reported near Rudunu, Bankamawa, and Farfaru in the Faru District.
These movements have raised concerns among locals, who fear a resurgence of violence in the already troubled area.
Makama also alleged that Turji is being sheltered by Jummo Smally, a former rival who has now aligned with him. This development has drawn attention as the Nigerian military intensifies its operations against banditry in the Northwest, particularly under the ongoing efforts of Operation Hadarin Daji and Operation Forest Sanity.
In related news, two other notorious bandit leaders, Abu Radde and Umar Black, recently surrendered their arms in Katsina State.
Both men were known for orchestrating attacks in Batsari and Safana Local Government Areas. Their decision to lay down their weapons is believed to be a direct result of the military’s intensified crackdown on bandit hideouts across the region.
The military’s actions have reportedly disrupted key strongholds, forcing many bandits to flee or seek refuge in remote areas.
