Nigerian Troops battling insurgents in the north. Photo credit: Zagazola Makama
A group known as Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development says military operations in the north-west are curbing banditry in the area.
In a statement on Saturday, Sani Shinkafi, the group’s executive director, said the military onslaught against bandits in the region is “yielding positive results”.
Shinkafi said since President Bola Tinubu asked Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, and other military officers to relocate to Sokoto, there has been improvement in raids against bandits.
The group said “several notorious armed bandits” in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kaduna have been neutralised in the “most effective, concerted and coordinated military operation”.
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“Today, bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, and his cohorts are in disarray and have no option than to surrender or be killed like Habibu Sububu, their mentor,” the statement reads.
“The Patriots for Peace and Social Development implores the minister of state for defence, the chief of defence staff and other security agencies to intensify military offences in the north-west region and smoke out these criminal elements in their various hideouts with two options — either to surrender or instantly meet their maker.
“Most importantly, the military should descend heavily on the most wanted bandit and social media noisemaker, Bello Turji, at his main camp in Fakai forest in the eastern part of Shinkafi Local Government, Zamfara State.
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“With the killing of most of the bandits’ leaders, capture of numerous fighters, rescue of several victims in their camps, bandits are in total disarray for the first time in over a decade.”
The group cautioned politicians against “sabotaging” the efforts of the military in fighting banditry, adding that the armed forces can end the menace.
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