Please Get Me Bello Turji, Defence Minister Pleads With Military

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Officers and men of the Joint Taskforce North West Operation, Fansar Yamma, have been given the marching order to  apprehend wanted and notorious  banditry kingpin, Bello Turji.

The Source reports that Turji, who has been top on the wanted list of Security Operatives engaged in the fight against banditry and terrorism in the North West region is considered one of the most notorious and vicious banditry  leaders in the Zamfara axis.

Apart from his ruthlessness in dealing with victims, Turji has equally caught the attention of not just security personnel but also many Nigerians owing to his tendency for imposing excruciating tax regime on areas under his control.

He, recently, imposed a protection levy of N30 million on some Zamfara communities, a development which drew the ire of the authorities both at the state and Federal levels.

Defence Minister, Mohammad Abubakar Badaru, on Thursday, October 24, 2024, on a visit to the troops of Operation Fansar Yamma in Gusau, the Zamfara State Capital, charged them to capture the bandit leader at all cost.

Badaru who was received on the visit by the Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mani Mumini and the Commander of Fansar Yamma, Oluyinka Olalekan, a Major General, also conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s appreciation of the tremendous successes recently recorded by troops in the fight against banditry and other criminal activities in the North West region.

The Defence Minister, who is the immediate past Governor of Jigawa State, stated the President has been closely following events in the last few months, and is satisfied with the progress being made in tackling the security challenges in region.

“The President urged me to thank you and to encourage you to intensify efforts towards combating insecurity in these areas and across the country.

“He is ready to provide all necessary resources to end insecurity in the North West and Nigeria as a whole”, he noted.

While acknowledging some challenges facing efforts at combating banditry and other criminal activities, in the region, Badaru called for concerted efforts to capture wanted banditry lord Turji, noting that his arrest will be a sweet victory for him.

“Are you ready to finish with them? Are you ready to end it? Please get me Turji.” the Defence Minister stated.