By Deborah Nnamdi
The Defence Headquarters has dismissed claims that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has surrendered to the Nigerian military.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye addressed the issue on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja.
“Simple answer to the question about terrorist leader, Bello Turji: Turji has not surrendered. We are still on the lookout for him,” Kangye stated.
Turji, who operates mainly in Zamfara and Sokoto States, is wanted for orchestrating numerous deadly attacks on communities in the North-West region.
Recent reports had suggested that Turji laid down his arms and released 32 kidnap victims as part of a peace initiative facilitated by Islamic clerics in Zamfara State. The military has now debunked those reports.
Meanwhile, Niger State Governor, Muhammad Umaru Bago, has announced the arrest of Abubakar Abba, the leader of the Mahmuda terrorist group.
Abba, who led the deadly group operating in Borgu Local Council of Niger State and parts of Kwara, was apprehended in Wawa town by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to a Facebook post by the Governor’s spokesperson, Bologi Ibrahim, the arrest was made without a single shot being fired.
“Yes, it is true. I can confirm that the leader of Mahmuda, one of the most dangerous terror groups in West Africa, Abubakar Abba, has been arrested by the DSS,” Ibrahim quoted the governor.
He noted that the arrest was the result of an intelligence-led operation.
