Infamous bandit leader Bello Turji has issued a brazen challenge to the Nigerian military, accusing them of arresting innocent civilians and daring them to confront him and his men directly in battle.
Turji’s outburst followed the military’s December 20 announcement that key members of his network had been apprehended during an operation. Major General Edward Buba confirmed the arrests of Bako Wurgi, Abubakar Muhammad, and Hamisu Sale (also known as Master). Wurgi, implicated in the murder of a Sokoto king, reportedly succumbed to injuries sustained in a firefight but provided critical intelligence before his death.
“The arrested terrorist leader, Bako Wurgi, eventually succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the firefight. He, nevertheless, provided valuable intelligence to support troops’ operations before he died,” Buba stated.
In a video released on Christmas Day, Turji disputed the military’s account, claiming the arrests occurred in markets and hospitals, not during a battle. He described the detainees as elderly members of his ancestral community, denying their involvement in banditry.
“Edward Buba, look at the elderly people you arrested. They are above 75 years old. And look at me. I am 35 years old, and you said those people you arrested are my accomplices,” Turji said.
“If you actually want to fight us, not our parents, you know where we are. Come, let us fight.”
Turji went further, accusing residents of Zamfara and Sokoto States, particularly in Shinkafi, of collaborating with the military. He issued chilling threats of intensified violence in 2025 if his demands, including the release of detained individuals, were not met.
“If you don’t address those informants responsible for the killing of our brothers, you will face the consequences. You know we are killers; we know how to kill. Any town that fails to obey our directives, we are going to turn it into rubble,” he warned.
The bandit leader also taunted the military to publicly display the firearms allegedly seized from his group, asserting that no battle had taken place.
Turji’s threats underline the persistent insecurity in northern Nigeria, where communities remain vulnerable to banditry and violence. The Nigerian military has yet to officially respond to Turji’s latest provocations.
