Zamfara Governor vows to end banditry as hunt for kingpin Turji heats up

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has declared that security forces are tightening the noose around notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, insisting that the wanted kingpin and his fighters will eventually be captured or eliminated despite lingering security challenges across the state.

Lawal’s remarks come amid renewed concerns over bandit attacks in parts of Zamfara and neighbouring states, where armed groups have continued to carry out raids on rural communities, rustle livestock, abduct residents for ransom and launch deadly assaults on security personnel.

Speaking during an interview with Rabiatu Runka, the governor dismissed suggestions that Turji had outsmarted security agencies or become untouchable, stressing that no criminal group is beyond the reach of government authority.

According to him, ongoing military and security operations have significantly weakened the activities of bandit groups operating within the state.

“There is no terrorist beyond the capacity of government,” Lawal said, expressing confidence that Turji’s reign of terror would soon come to an end.

The governor, however, declined to give a specific timeline for the capture of the fugitive bandit leader, saying security operations are being carefully coordinated to achieve lasting results.

“It is simply a matter of time. By God’s grace, we will capture him very soon,” he stated.

Lawal explained that the campaign against armed groups in Zamfara involves collaboration among the Zamfara Community Protection Guards, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force from Borno State, the military and the police.

He revealed that recent operations had resulted in the arrest and killing of several bandit fighters, describing the development as evidence that security forces are steadily gaining ground.

“A large number of them have already been neutralised or captured. Some have been apprehended, while others have been eliminated,” he said.

The governor characterised the ongoing campaign as an active war against criminal elements, adding that authorities are neither slowing down nor retreating in their efforts to restore peace across the state.

He said intelligence gathering and surveillance operations had enabled security agencies to identify some of the locations being used by bandit groups, assuring residents that efforts were underway to dismantle the criminal networks.

“We know where some of them are. We are closing in on them. There is no retreat and there is no backing down,” Lawal said.

He maintained that protecting lives and property remains a core responsibility of government and pledged that the state would continue to support security agencies until normalcy is fully restored.

“That is the essence of governance, and that is what the government will continue to do. It is only a matter of time. Very soon, by God’s grace, this issue will come to a conclusion,” he added.

Zamfara has remained one of the states most affected by banditry in Nigeria’s North-West region. For years, communities across several local government areas have experienced repeated attacks by armed gangs operating from forest enclaves spread across Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and parts of Kebbi State.

In recent months, security agencies have intensified offensives targeting criminal hideouts in forests such as Tsafe, Maru, Zurmi and Shinkafi areas, leading to the rescue of kidnapped victims and the destruction of several camps. Despite the gains recorded by security forces, sporadic attacks and abductions have continued to raise concerns among residents and humanitarian organisations.

Bello Turji has remained one of the most prominent figures linked to bandit activities in the North-West. Over the years, he has been accused by authorities of masterminding attacks on communities and security formations, although security agencies have repeatedly intensified efforts to track and dismantle his network.

Lawal’s latest assurance is expected to renew public expectations for a decisive breakthrough in the fight against banditry, particularly as residents of Zamfara continue to demand stronger security measures and a permanent end to years of violence that have disrupted farming, trade and daily life across many communities.