The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has pledged that the Armed Forces will intensify efforts to apprehend the notorious terrorist and bandit leader, Bello Turji, as soon as possible.
Speaking at a briefing at Defence Headquarters on military operations across the country, General Musa condemned the activities of the terrorist leader, who has been terrorizing Sokoto State and its neighboring communities. He revealed that Turji’s operations have been sustained due to the support he receives from certain unscrupulous members of the local communities who act as informants.
“If Turji did not have the backing of some greedy individuals within the community, it would have been extremely difficult for him to operate successfully,” the CDS remarked. He called on local residents to collaborate with the military and security agencies to protect themselves and defeat these adversaries.
Responding to questions from journalists, General Musa addressed allegations that Turji had imposed levies on communities under his control. He noted the challenges in fighting non-state actors who blend into local populations.
“You are dealing with individuals who are not in uniform, you don’t know them, but they know you,” Musa explained. “Without community support, it becomes extremely difficult to combat them.”
General Musa assured Nigerians that the military and other security agencies are working tirelessly to arrest Turji. He emphasized the need for community cooperation in denying bandits the ability to move freely, urging residents not to provide any form of support or information to the terrorists.
“On the issue of Turji, he’s just a deranged individual who feels empowered, but I assure you it’s only a matter of time before we get him. We are fully committed to ensuring that peace and normalcy return to affected areas in Nigeria.”
The CDS also highlighted the broader security challenges in the country, emphasizing that the military will continue to lead efforts to tackle these threats in collaboration with other security agencies. He called on Nigerians, including the press, to join in the fight against insecurity.
“Most of the areas where these issues persist are because we have informants within the communities,” General Musa warned. He urged the public to withhold information from bandits and work closely with security forces to combat the ongoing threat.