No fewer than 44 security operatives were feared killed in a fresh wave of bloodshed allegedly orchestrated by notorious bandits’ kingpin, Bello Turji, in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The gruesome attack, which took place in a remote area near Shinkafi, claimed the lives of 40 members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and four soldiers, according to a post by a security analyst who goes by the name Bakatsine on X (formerly Twitter).
The ambush reportedly occurred as the operatives were responding to intelligence on the movement of armed bandits in the area. Turji’s fighters, heavily armed and strategically positioned, opened fire on the advancing troops, leaving dozens dead and many others wounded.
Confirming the scale of the carnage, Bakatsine stated: “Bello Turji reportedly killed 40 JTF members and four soldiers near Shinkafi LGA, Zamfara State, burning a military vehicle.”
In a chilling escalation of violence, Turji was said to have also released a video showing the execution of a former bandit-turned-informant, Bashari Maniya, who he accused of betrayal for cooperating with security forces.
The Nigerian military and other security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
However, security analysts fear that the attack underscores the growing boldness and tactical sophistication of armed non-state actors in the North-West.
Bello Turji has remained one of Nigeria’s most wanted and dangerous bandit leaders, accused of masterminding numerous attacks on communities and security formations across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina states.
The latest ambush raises renewed concerns over the safety of troops on field operations and the overall strategy of the government in confronting the decade-long menace of banditry in the region.
Residents of Zamfara have continued to call for urgent intervention from the federal government to restore peace to the beleaguered state, which has become an epicentre of insecurity and mass displacement.
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