The Theatre Commander of Operation Fansan Yamma, a military offensive in the North West, Major General Warrah Idris, has said that bandit leader, Bello Turji, is in panic and confusion as intensified military operations close in on him and his fighters.

He said this while responding to questions from Defence Correspondents who were on tour to the Command Headquarters in Zamfara.

Turji has been linked to mass killings, kidnappings for ransom, cattle rustling, village raids and arson across rural communities.

General Idris noted that Turji has remained elusive but is now under sustained pressure from coordinated ground operations, human intelligence and technology-driven surveillance.

He said: “Based on the most current intelligence received, Bello Turji, and others are currently in confusion and panic because of the intensity of our current operations. They are relocating after every few hours, every few days.

Idris dismissed claims that Turji controls local government areas or villages in the North East, describing such assertions as propaganda by terrorists who constantly flee from military forces.

He said: “How does a person who does not have a permanent location control an axis or a local government?

“I dare Bello Turji to come out and present a single local government that he is controlling.”

He added that Turji and other notorious bandit leaders, including Gwaska, Ado Aleru and Dogo Gide, are being actively pursued across the theatre of operations.

“All things being equal, Bello Turji will soon be history in the North-West region,” Idris said, stressing that leaders of armed groups are being tracked through all available intelligence platforms.

The theatre commander also clarified reports about the alleged planned release of 70 bandits, saying there was no official information or directive confirming such claims.

“We have not received any circular, letter or formal information regarding the release of 70 terrorists. What we are hearing are rumours, and we consider them fake news,” he said.

Idris warned against the spread of unverified reports, noting that misinformation, including the use of artificial intelligence-generated content, was becoming rampant.

On regional security cooperation, he said the military has strengthened intelligence sharing with neighbouring countries, including Niger and Benin Republic, to curb cross-border movements of armed groups such as the Lakurawa terrorists.

He revealed that several Lakurawa fighters were killed last month during operations around the Kamba general area, with weapons and motorcycles recovered.

Idris assured that the military would continue sustained operations against banditry and terrorism, adding that operational challenges are communicated through appropriate military channels rather than disclosed publicly.

“We are ready to work, get more work and look for more work,” he said, expressing confidence that ongoing efforts would yield results.” (The Nation)