Bello Turji’s Reign of Terror: Vehicle Burned, 10 Kidnapped in Zamfara
On January 1, 2025, bandits suspected to be affiliates of notorious leader Bello Turji abducted 10 passengers and set their vehicle ablaze along the Kaura-Namoda–Shinkafi Road in Zamfara State.
The incident occurred around 8 a.m. near Kwanar Jalab village in Zungeru Ward, Shinkafi Local Government Area.
The assailants ambushed a vehicle traveling from Gusau to Shinkafi, kidnapped all occupants, and subsequently torched the vehicle—a tactic not previously observed in this region.
This attack follows Turji’s ultimatum demanding the release of his associate, Baka Wurgi, who is currently in military custody. Turji had threatened to resume violent activities in Zamfara and Sokoto states if Wurgi was not freed by the end of December 2024.
In response, the Defence Headquarters labeled Turji “a dead man walking,” vowing that he and other terror masterminds would not live beyond 2025.
The recent abduction has heightened concerns among local residents, leading to calls for increased security measures to prevent further incidents.
Bello Turji, born in 1994, is a notorious Nigerian bandit leader operating primarily in northwestern Nigeria, particularly Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger states.
He has been responsible for numerous massacres and terrorist attacks against civilians and security forces in the region.