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By Charles Nwabardi
The power of notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has been drastically watered down as a result of injury sustained when the military fighter jets raided his hideouts and bandits camps in the North West.
Security Reporters.com gathered from credible sources that the attack jets of the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Hadin Kai, also killed several bandits in the raid carried out at some forests in Zamfara and Sokoto States, early Saturday.
A military intelligence source revealed that the Air Task Force aggressive operation, in conjunction with ground troops of the Nigerian Army took place at Shinkafi town in Zamfara, and Bafarawa, Isa, Sabon Birni axis in Sokoto State.
According to the intelligence source, the actual number of bandits who were eliminated by the airstrikes could not be ascertained in the dawn operations.
Our Correspondent, however, gathered that some bandits who sustained serious injuries attempted to flee, but were ambushed by ground troops.
“Apart from spontaneous operations in Katsina and Zamfara, from 16-17 December 2021, strikes were conducted by NAF aircraft at bandits camps in Isa, Sabon Birni axis and East Tozei where several bandits were eliminated and others escaped in a state of confusion.
“Furthermore on the morning of 18th December, 21 airstrikes were carried out in Gebe Village, Sokoto State, where bandits who were hitherto harassing innocent citizens were also mercilessly dealt with. Yet, few of the bandits still escaped, abandoning their weapons, in the process,” the source added.
Revealing how their military operation was conducted in the two North West States, another intelligence operative of the Nigerian Army, said recent joint operations by air and ground troops were yielding positive results.
He said a General Officer Commanding (GOC), led troops to strongholds of the bandits in Sokoto and Zamfara States, while at the same time, multiple airstrikes of the military attack jets pounded the criminal bandits.
“Many of them were neutralized. Credible reports indicate that Turji was badly wounded by today’s strike, if not dead. There were civilians that were also set free, after our military raids at the bandits’ forest camps.
“There may likely be collateral damages in communities where bandits are harboured and protected because some community leaders are reluctant to provide useful information on the bandits in their areas,” he said.
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