The nation’s most wanted terrorist, Bello Turji, has been dealt a huge blow as an intensified military offensive compelled him to release no fewer than 15 hostages from his custody.
The release of the hostages follows the reported killing of his son during a joint military operation by air components and Operation Fansan Yanma.
Operation Fansan Yanma, established to tackle terrorism and insecurity in the North West region, recently recorded successes that saw the surrender of two terrorist leaders, Abu Radde and Umar Black, who had been terrorising Katsina State and its environs.
In a statement on Tuesday by the Defence Media Operations, the military revealed that the ongoing raids had dislodged “several terrorists” from their strongholds and inflicted heavy casualties on them.
The statement reads, “The surrender was occasioned by ongoing synchronised offensive operations by the ground troops and the air component, which resulted in several terrorists dislodged from their enclaves with high casualties.
“During the operations, troops recovered assorted weapons and ammunitions as well as secured the release of 15 hostages held by the terrorist.
“Troops are nevertheless sustaining the momentum as they continue the hunt for notorious terrorist leader Bello Turji, among others.
“On the whole, troops will continue to eliminate threats posed by terrorists and destroy them on the battlefield.
“The terrorists either surrender or are buried on the battlefield.
“Additionally, troops continue with their operations to create conditions whereby terrorists are denied the ability to carry out acts of terror against citizens.”
