Troops of the Nigerian Army have recorded fresh gains against armed bandits following a fierce gunbattle during an offensive targeting the hideout of notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, in the Fakai axis of Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Security sources said the operation, spearheaded by the 8 Division Strike Force, began around 6:00 a.m. on March 20, with troops advancing into the Kagara Forest, a known stronghold of Turji’s faction.
However, the movement encountered a setback when two combat support vehicles developed mechanical faults near Maberaya village in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, forcing a temporary pause.
The situation quickly escalated as heavily armed bandits launched an ambush from elevated positions and dense forest cover.
“The troops swiftly responded with superior firepower, engaging the bandits and eliminating several of them in the encounter,” a source disclosed.
Our correspondent gathered that three soldiers and a personnel from the Department of State Services who sustained injuries during the battle were immediately evacuated to the 8 Division Military Hospital for treatment.
Amid the ongoing operations, the Chairman of Isa Local Government Area, Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, hailed the military’s efforts, describing recent offensives as a major breakthrough in the fight against banditry.
Kamarawa revealed that troops had earlier struck in Manawa village, where several bandits were neutralised before advancing toward Turji’s camp.
“They attacked Manawa village and killed a number of bandits there,” he said.
“After Manawa, they proceeded to Turji’s camp and continued the operation,” he added.
The council boss said the sustained pressure on bandit enclaves is yielding results but lamented that such successes often receive little public attention.
“This is a success that the military and the state government are supposed to be appreciated for, but nobody is talking about it,” Kamarawa said.
He criticised what he described as a tendency to focus only on negative security developments.
“People only speak when it is negative, but when something positive like this happens, they keep quiet,” he noted.
The latest encounters underscore the intensity of ongoing military operations across Sokoto and Zamfara states, as security forces push deeper into forest hideouts to dismantle armed groups responsible for years of killings, kidnappings and rural terror.
Although official confirmation is still awaited, multiple local and security sources indicate that the offensive has significantly disrupted the activities of Turji’s network, raising cautious optimism among affected communities.
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