Nigerian troops have killed scores of bandits in coordinated offensives targeting camps linked to notorious kingpin Bello Turji in Zamfara State and Sokoto State.
Security sources said the raids focused on hideouts in Fakai, spanning Shinkafi and Isa local government areas, as part of intensified military operations against armed groups in the North-West.
The operation, spearheaded by the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division Strike Force, began in the early hours of March 20, with troops advancing deep into the Kagara Forest, a known stronghold for bandit factions.
However, the advance suffered a temporary setback when two combat support vehicles developed mechanical faults near Maberaya village in Isa LGA, slowing the troops’ momentum.
Despite this, heavily armed fighters launched an ambush from elevated terrain and dense forest cover. Troops responded with superior firepower, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle and neutralising several of them.
During the clash, three soldiers and one operative of the Department of State Services sustained injuries and were evacuated to the 8 Division Military Hospital in Sokoto for treatment.
Authorities also dismissed viral claims that over 150 bandits drowned in a boat accident in Sabon Gida, describing the report as false. Officials from the National Inland Waterways Authority confirmed the waterway in the area is not currently navigable.
Rising Tensions in Kwara
Meanwhile, concerns over insecurity deepened in Kwara State, where the Kwara South Security Joint Watch criticised local leaders for failing to act on threat alerts.
The warning came shortly before an attack on an ECWA church in Omugo via Oro-Ago in Ifelodun LGA, where eight worshippers were abducted. Three victims were later rescued.
Army Chief Reaffirms Troop Welfare
Elsewhere, Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, reiterated his commitment to troop welfare during an Eid-el-Fitr luncheon with soldiers in Lagos.
He stressed that morale and well-being remain central to military effectiveness, while also honouring personnel who lost their lives in service. Shaibu commended ongoing operations, including Operation Enduring Peace, for sustained efforts to restore security nationwide.
