The military command has announced the arrest of suspects suspected of supplying arms to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji in a separate operation.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, November 23, 2023, the Director of Defense Media Operations, Maj. General Edward Buba said the suspects were on their way to deliver arms and ammunition to bandit leaders in Zamfara when they were arrested by the military. The three suspects, whose names have not been released by the military, were arrested in Kaduna during an operation that lasted from November 14 to 17, 2023.
On November 14, 2022, the Ministry of National Defense declared Turji and 18 others “wanted” and paid 95 million naira in compensation. Turji is considered one of the most dangerous gang leaders and is said to have been involved in the killing of nearly 200 people, including women and children, in January 2022.
He is also believed to be behind the 2021 attack that killed over 80 people in one night in Garki town, Sokoto.
“Between November 14 and 17, 2023, the military arrested three suspected arms dealers (names withheld) in Zango Kataf and Kagarko LGAs of Kaduna State,” Buba said. Preliminary investigation revealed that they were on their way to deliver ammunition to Bello Turji, a notorious terrorist leader from Zamfara State
“The army recovered 504 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 100 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, three RPG magazines, three mobile phones, an ATM and a vehicle.”
Buba also said troops recovered an improvised explosive device containing a letter from Biu district of Borno.
“On November 20, 2023, troops on patrol discovered an IED carrying a handwritten letter in Biu LGA, Borno State. Analysis is ongoing.
He said a total of 99 terrorists were killed and 198 of them were arrested in the multi-district operation. In addition, the military arrested 49 oil thieves and rescued 139 hostages. In the Southern Region, the military only denied the theft of oil to the sum of N1,018,483,900.00. Troops in the Niger Delta region have 245 boreholes, 31 boats, 69 storage tanks, 23 vehicles, 162 stoves, 1 pumper, 3 outboard motors, 1 tricycle and 50 illegal logging sites.
“The army recovered 578,900 liters of stolen crude oil, 454,330 liters of illegally refined AGO and 10,000 liters of KDP.