A CHIEFTAIN of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara state, Dr. Sani Shinkafi has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the escalating security threat posed by the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
Speaking to journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, Shinkafi expressed grave concern over Turji’s latest threats to turn towns and villages in Sokoto and Zamfara states into ghost communities if his demands are not met.
The alarm was raised following the release of a video by Turji where he boldly challenged security agencies to release his ally, Bako Wurgi, who was recently apprehended by security operatives at the Shinkafi General Hospital.
Wurgi was said to have been injured when he had confrontations with some other bandit groups in the Mania area and was taken to Shinkafi General Hospital where he was subsequently arrested by the Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma
In the 5-minute video, Turji warned that he would render towns and villages in Shinkafi Zurmi (Zamfara State) and Isa (Sokoto State) uninhabitable if his demands were ignored.
Reacting to the threat, Shinkafi has called on President Bola Tinubu to treat the situation with utmost urgency.
Addressing newsmen in Gusau, Former Chairman of Zamfara State Committee on Banditry Related Offences stressed the need for a swift and coordinated response to neutralize the growing security risk posed by Turji and his gang.
“I want to call on Mr President as the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to save the lives and properties of good people of Shinkafi, Zurmi local government areas, Isah local government in Sokoto even Sabon-Birnin axis in Sokoto state.”
“It is very unfortunate even if it is a slap to the Nigerian Security apparatus where an armed bandit will be issuing all kinds of threats to our local communities because his accomplice was arrested in the hospital.”
He called for immediate collaboration between the governments of Sokoto and Zamfara states to engage with President Tinubu and develop a robust strategy to neutralize the threat.
“I hereby call on the Governments of Sokoto and Zamfara State, all religious leaders, politicians and top Security agencies to come to the aid of our people in these local governments he mentioned in the video, the authorities should not take it lightly.”
The Zamfara-based politician urged security agencies to take Turji’s threats seriously, stressing that failure to act decisively could lead to devastating consequences for communities in the region.
“This is the time for security agencies in Zamfara State to wake up and tight their belts to face this criminal squarely, there is no time to wait until he launches an attack, the security agencies should do anything humanly possible, deploy more security personnel to ungoverned spaces to checkmate his excesses. This is the right time for security agencies to act.”
Turji has long been a central figure in the ongoing banditry crisis affecting the Northwestern region of the country, with his group responsible for countless attacks, kidnappings, and displacement of residents.
His latest threat has heightened fears in the mentioned local government areas, with residents calling for increased security measures to protect their communities.