Dreaded bandit leader Bello Turji has activated a network of prayer warriors from Niger Republic and Maiduguri in Borno State, in an attempt to evade being captured by Nigerian troops under the codename Operation Fansan Yanma.
Turji’s reign of terror has long been supported by spiritual leaders who offer prayers and guidance before his gang embarks on any mission.
Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, said these clerics provide “spiritual backing and determine the timing and nature of his criminal operations.”
According to Makama: “It has been a routine for Turji to consult these prayer warriors before carrying out attacks. They give directives on which missions are auspicious and advise on strategies for evading military offensives.”
Lately, the military has intensified efforts to capture Turji and dismantle his banditry network.
Troops recently killed his son during an offensive.