Zamfara: Troops nabs arms suppliers to wanted bandits commander

On Thursday, the military high command claimed that troops had apprehended suspected gunrunners who were supplying weaponry to the bandits’ leader, Bello Turji.

The military did not release the identities of the three people captured in Kaduna between November 14 and November 17, 2023.

On November 14, 2022, Turji and 18 others were designated wanted by the Defence Headquarters, and a N95 million bounty was set on their heads.

Turji, one of the most dangerous bandit kingpins, is accused of being engaged in the deaths of over 200 people, including women and children, in January 2022.

He was also accused of being behind the 2021 attack on Garki hamlet in Sokoto, which killed around 80 people in a one night.

Turji has avoided multiple military air strikes aimed at killing him.

The suspects were on their way to supply armament and ammunition to the bandit commander in Zamfara when they were captured by troops, according to Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director, Defence Media Operations, in Abuja.

He said,

“Between November 14 and 17 2023, troops in separate operations arrested three suspected arms dealers (names withheld) in Zango Kataf and Kagarko LGAs of Kaduna State.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that they were on their way to deliver ammunition to Bello Turji, who is a notorious terrorist leader in Zamfara State.

“Troops recovered 504 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammo, 100 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammo, three RPG chargers, three mobile phones, one ATM card, and one vehicle.”