The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has assured Nigerians that the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji will soon be apprehended by the military. Speaking to reporters after the Security Chiefs’ meeting at Defence Headquarters in Abuja, General Musa emphasized that Turji’s days of terror are numbered.
“We are going to get him, and I can assure you that within the shortest possible time, we will address that issue,” General Musa stated, reflecting confidence in the military’s ability to tackle the banditry that has plagued parts of the country.
The high-level security meeting was attended by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, as well as leaders from various paramilitary organizations.
General Musa described Turji as a “deranged individual” intoxicated by a false sense of power. He urged citizens to work alongside the Armed Forces and security agencies, stressing the importance of community collaboration in combating banditry and denying criminals safe havens within local communities.
“Please, do not give them any support. Do not provide information on the movement of troops because this is what is really happening. Most of the areas where these activities continue is because we have informants within the communities,” General Musa explained, highlighting the challenge posed by internal informants aiding the bandits.
He reiterated the difficulty of asymmetric warfare, warning that combatting non-state actors—who operate without uniforms and blend into communities—is particularly challenging without local support.
“We are dealing with non-state actors who do not wear uniforms. You don’t know them, but they know you. If you don’t have the support of the community, it makes it extremely difficult,” he added.
The meeting underscored the military’s continued efforts to intensify operations against banditry, terrorism, and other forms of criminality across Nigeria. The security chiefs vowed to enhance collaboration and intelligence-sharing to accelerate the defeat of these threats.
