Wanted bandit, Bello Turji, resurfaces, marks Sallah with killing of 12 people in Sokoto

Nigeria’s most wanted bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, has resurfaced after he had gone under the radar for several weeks when he reportedly hosted an elaborate Sallah celebration in Magira, Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Tuesday.

He was said to have gone to Fadamar Lugu in the same LGA, where he and his gang killed 12 people and injured one person while carting away herds of cattle and other properties.

According to security expert in the northern region, Bakatsine, Turji and his gang had gathered in Magira for the Eid-al-Fatr festival which was well attended by other bandits from the neighboring Zamfara State and after the celebration, they proceeded to Fadamar Lugu, where they unleashed terror on innocent residents.

Bakatsine who posted the development on his X handle @DanKatsina50 on Wednesday, wrote:

“Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, hosted an elaborate Eid celebration in Magira, Isa Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State, before moving to Fadamar Lugu in the same LGA, where he and his gang brutally killed 12 people and injured one person on Tuesday.

“After the feast, he moved to Fadamar Lugu in Isa LGA, Sokoto State, killing 12 people & injuring one person just for fun,” Bakatsine said.

The reappearance of Turji serves another blow to the Nigerian security apparatus following several vows by the military hierarchy that he would be either arrested or eliminated and his reign of terror would be brought to an end.

However, despite these assurances, the bandit leader has continued to remain elusive and has continued to wreck havoc in Zamfara and Sokoto States where he operates like an unchecked war lord.

Turji who has thus far, become one of the most wanted bandits in Nigeria, has been linked to numerous killings, kidnappings, and attacks across Sokoto and Zamfara States and it remains to be seen when he will be finally eliminated or arrested by the Nigerian military or other security forces in the country.

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