The Nigerian military has dealt a big blow to Bello Turji’s operations with recent operations that targeted his top commanders and has forced him into a desperate situation.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa made this known at a high level conference in Abuja on Friday, saying the military is determined to dismantle terrorist networks in Zamfara State and beyond.
Sustained Pressure
General Musa said in an operation on Thursday night, troops killed two of Turji’s top commanders in his camp: Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu.
This is a big blow to Turji whose influence is waning as a result of relentless military pressure.
The CDS said follow up operations in Tufan and Mashima villages dispersed the armed groups and cut off their supply lines.
The military’s operations also extended to Turji’s strongholds where remnants of his camps were destroyed.
“Turji and his man Sani Black are now looking for escape routes,” Musa said, adding the psychological and operational pressure on the bandit leader.
This is coming after earlier operations in January 2025 where troops killed Turji’s second in command Aminu Kanawa and wounded his younger brother Dosso and 24 other bandits.
Terrorism Efforts
Musa attributed the recent successes to coordinated air and ground operation which have degraded the terrorists’ capacity.
For instance, a logistics base disguised as a school in Zamfara where they store weapons and supplies was destroyed in precision airstrikes.
Meanwhile, collaboration with local vigilantes in Ruwan Dawa village led to recovery of weapons and motorcycles which has further disrupted bandit mobility.
The Defence Chief also spoke on the broader challenges saying the terrorists have used Nigeria’s vast land and community ties to evade capture. But enhanced intelligence and rapid response is now countering these advantages.
“The era of impunity is over,” Musa said, signaling a new direction in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency strategy.
Security experts including counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama has also documented Turji’s waning influence.
Turji, a dominant figure in northwestern kidnappings and attacks, has lost key allies like Kachalla Na Faranshi – a weapons smuggler linked to Mali-based terror groups – who was killed in Zurmi’s forests in February 2025.
These losses combined with the military’s sustained pressure has left Turji isolated and reportedly thinking of surrender.
As the operations continue, the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to eradicate terrorism.
“We will sustain this momentum until every threat is neutralized,” Musa said, emphasizing the integration of land, air and maritime forces to protect vulnerable areas.
The dismemberment of Bello Turji’s network is a clear indication of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to tackling banditry. With strategic strikes, intelligence driven operations and cross border collaboration, the military is not only recapturing territories but also restoring hope to communities in conflict.
As Musa said, the message to the armed groups is clear: their time is up.