Military arrests weapons suppliers of famous Zamfara bandit boss, Bello Turji
The military high command announced that troops in separate operations arrested suspected arms dealers who supplied weapons to notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, November 23, 2023, the Director of Defense Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the suspects were on their way to supply arms and ammunition to the leader of the bandits in Zamfara when they were arrested by the troops. .
The three suspects, whose identities were not disclosed by the military, were arrested in Kaduna in operations carried out between November 14 and 17, 2023.
The Defense Headquarters declared, on November 14, 2021, that Turji and 18 others were wanted and placed a reward of N95m on them.
Considered one of the most dangerous bandit bosses, Turji was involved in the alleged murder of around 200 people, including women and children, in January 2022.
He was also said to be behind the attack on Garki village in Sokoto, where more than 80 people were murdered in one night in 2021.
“Between November 14 and 17, 2023, troops in separate operations arrested three suspected arms dealers (names withheld) in Zango Kataf and Kagarko LGAs of Kaduna State,” Buba stated.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that they were on their way to deliver ammunition to Bello Turji who is a notorious terrorist leader in Zamfara State.
“Troops recovered 504 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 100 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, three RPG magazines, three cell phones, one ATM card and one vehicle.”
Buba also said troops discovered an improvised explosive device with a letter in it in the Biu area of Borno.
“On November 20, 2023, troops while on patrol discovered an IED with a handwritten letter in Biu LGA, Borno State. Analysis is ongoing.
He said that in total, 99 terrorists were killed while 198 of them were arrested in various theaters of operations.
“Troops also arrested 49 oil theft perpetrators and rescued 139 kidnapped hostages. In the South-South, troops denied stealing oil worth an estimated N1,018,483,900.00 only.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area destroyed 245 excavations, 31 boats, 69 storage tanks, 23 vehicles, 162 kitchen ovens, one pumping machine, three outboard motors, one tricycle and 50 illegal refining sites.
“Troops recovered 578,900 liters of stolen crude oil, 454,330 liters of illegally refined AGO and 10,000 liters of DPK.”
Source: www.lindaikejisblog.com