The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has reaffirmed the military’s commitment to securing Zamfara State, vowing that wanted bandit leader Bello Turji will soon be eliminated.
Speaking at the Headquarters of Operation Fasan Yamma in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, Oluyede stated that Turji remains on the run, but the military is in relentless pursuit.
“Bello Turji is on the run as we speak, and everywhere he goes, we follow him there. Let him keep running; it is just a matter of time before he is removed from the space,” the army chief declared.
Oluyede highlighted recent successes in the fight against banditry, revealing that troops have eliminated several notorious bandit leaders in the past few months.
“We are pursuing them, and we intend to continue. In the last few months, we have killed prominent bandit leaders like Samaila, Boga, and the likes of Boderi. All those ones are dead. We are still working to make the entire North-West safe,” he said.
While acknowledging challenges in the operation, the army chief expressed confidence that the troops would overcome them. He also urged Nigerians to support the military by providing timely intelligence to enhance security efforts.
Earlier in the day, Oluyede inspected the quarter guard under tight security before receiving an operational briefing from the Theatre Commander, Major General Oluyinka Soyele.
His visit, the first since his appointment on October 30, 2024, comes at a critical time as troops continue to battle banditry and other security threats in the North-West. Operation Fasan Yamma remains a key initiative in the Nigerian Army’s ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability in the region, which has been plagued by rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.
