The military high command Tuesday declared that the notorious bandit and terrorist leader, Bello Turji, is a ‘dead man walking.’
Turji is a notorious terrorist and bandit leader operating in the North-western Nigeria of Zamfara and Sokoto states, as well as Niger state in the North-central.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba, stated this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on the operations of the military in the year 2024.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Buba said it was important to realise that the terrorists exist for the sake of war and must be destroyed for the sake of peace.
He added that the troops had sustained pressure on the terrorist enclaves, hideouts, and strongholds as an incentive to speedily defeat the terrorists and hastily end the war.
“During the course of the year, troops eliminated thousands of terrorists and also their commanders and combatants among others.
“We are also sure that similar fate awaits those parading themselves as terror leaders and commanders today.
“Take it from me, he is merely a dead man walking, as he will soon follow suit with many others that have been eliminated during the course of the year.”
…On arrests, other feats in 2024
Blueprint also quoted the DHQ as saying troops deployed to different theatres of operations across the country neutralised over 10,937 terrorists and arrested 12,538 others in the year 2024.
The military high command also said during the course of the year, troops eliminated over a thousand notable terrorist leaders, commanders and combatants among others.
The military said some of those eliminated in the course of the year include; Dutse Mainasara Idda, Mallam Saleh Umaru, Mohammed Amadu, Chinemerem (aka Bam Bam), Jeremiah Uzuoma (aka Escoba), Tochukwu Awo (aka Ojoto) and Egwuatu amongst others.
Buba, who said troops rescued 7,063 hostages, added: “Over the last 12 months, troops were confronted by several threats across the country ranging from armed banditry, kidnapping for ransom, crude oil theft, violent extremism, insurgency as well as terrorism among others.
“Several of these threats adversely affected innocent citizens and disrupted peace and security in the country.
“Troops war effort was therefore designed and crafted to defeat and destroy the terrorists as well as dismantle their terror infrastructure across the country. Accordingly, troops continued, relentless, and painful pressure on the terrorist enclaves, hideouts and strongholds as an incentive to defeating the terrorist.”
Speaking further, the defence spokesperson said troops recovered 8,815 weapons, 228,004 ammunitions and denied the oil thieves crude estimated to worth the sum over N68 billion (N68,453,376,040.00) only.
He gave the breakdown of the recoveries to include: “4,332 AK47 rifles, 1,244 locally fabricated guns, 838 dane guns, 259 pump action guns, 128,496 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 45,445 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 5,103 cartridges, 2,131 assorted arms and 29,176 assorted ammunitions.
“Others are 56,223,002 litres of stolen crude oil, 9,735,836 litres of illegally refined AGO, 95,595 litres of DPK and 156,527 litres of PMS amongst other items.”
The defence spokesperson said troops were focused on increasingly delivering tangible benefits of their operations for the benefits of citizens.
“Additionally, troops seek to continue to heighten collaboration with neighbouring countries and regional bodies in order to tackle the menace of terrorism,” he said.
He assured that many of what was witnessed in the outgoing year was indicative of a major defeat of the terrorist in 2025.
According to him, troops in the battlefield were in high spirits, fully committed, devoted and believed in the justness of the cause.
“Troops will be going the extra mile in the new year to get the job done.
“On the whole, the war is not for the armed forces alone, but for all citizens. The military therefore urges for more citizens’ support in order to win the war,” he said.
“To refresh your memory, I will real out some of the names of notable terrorist leaders that we have taken out since January this year.
“These include: Halilu Sububu, Dutse Mainasara Idda, Mallam Saleh Umaru, Mohammed Amadu, Abubakar Musa, Adamu Tanko Ibrahim, Yellow Dogon Rakumi, Isiya Boderi and Alhaji Baldu.
“Others are: Usman Modi Modi, Kachalla Halilu, Kachalla Tukur, Amir Ibrahim Bukar, Saidu Hassan Yellow, Buba Kachalla Bukar, Bakura Jega, Abba Tukur amongst others,’’ he said.
Buba said the military would not hesitate to defend the country from terror attacks with overwhelming military force to continue to deliver tangible benefits for all Nigerians.
He said several terrorist leaders, combatants and their families also surrendered as a result of the intensity of the troop’s operations.