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Videos have surfaced online of bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, and his gang celebrating taking over the Nigerian Army Mines Resistant Armour Personnel (MRAP).
Turji and his men also took over lots of ammunition from the Nigerian Army during the seizure of the carrier.
This was confirmed by a counterinsurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, ZagaZola Makama.
Makama disclosed that a distress call had been received by the troops, indicating a high-level meeting of bandits at a specified location within the Bello Turji camp.
Responding, a team of troops was swiftly deployed to the area, led by a young officer but the team’s vehicle became stuck in the marshy terrain, hindering their advance.
Makama disclosed that the troops came under intense fire from the bandits, which triggered a heavy gunfire that lasted for some hours.
“Due to the weather conditions (heavy rain) throughout the day, air support was unable to arrive promptly, allowing the bandits to reinforce their position.
“The troops attempted to use the other MRAP to pull out the other one but it got stuck in the mud too.
“Another team of troops were reinforced to the scene but before their arrival, the situation became overwhelming for those holding the ground, as they could not pull out their two MRAPS.
“The troops withdrew, leaving behind the vehicles. No fatality was recorded in the encounter.
“Hours later, Turji and his boys appeared on the scene, shooting in the sky and screaming that they dislodged the troops and took their vehicles.”
Later, another video surfaced showing Turji, and his armed group celebrating after setting fire to two MRAPs vehicles on fire after removing essential parts from the vehicles, including ammunition boxes.
Turji and his gang were seen in the video, dressed in combat gear, chanting victory slogans and shouting “Allahu Akbar”.
Turji was heard warning the Nigerian Army, saying: “Bello Turji has seized two trucks. Nigerian Army, Bello Turji is coming for you, Insha Allah, if you don’t allow peace to reign. We are telling you and your clerics that we are with Allah.”
However, contrary to the reports that the bandits captured the APC, credible local security sources have clarified that the MRAPs had got stuck in a marshy area while troops responded to a distress call after a failed high-level reconciliatory meeting between bandits and locals in Zurmi, forcing the troops to abandon the vehicle temporarily and return to their base for reinforcement and a suitable vehicle to tow it. This gave rise to the erroneous speculation that the bandits had captured the vehicles.
Turji
A local source said: “The Nigerian military was alerted by a distress call about a high-level reconciliatory meeting between Balleri banditry gang and some Zamfara locals in the Zurmi axis. But by the time the Baleri boys arrived at the meeting venue, they were attacked by another group also invited to the truce meeting.
“The meeting was called to resolve the differences between the locals and the bandits, similar to the same truce working in the Shinkafi area where there is relatively peaceful coexistence.
“So, it was in the process that troops swung into action. Unfortunately, the APC vehicle they boarded to the area became stuck in a marshy area. As a result, they could not move. Therefore, they had to temporarily abandon the military vehicle, return to their base for adequate reinforcement, and bring in another truck that could tow the APC.
“So, the military APC was not captured by Bello Turji and his bandits. They only took over the vehicle after noticing that troops had withdrawn for formidable reinforcement to avoid being ambushed.
“You know it would be foolhardy for the troops to remain with their stranded vehicle. Their adversaries could easily launch a deadly ambush attack. So, the reports that Bello Turji captured a military vehicle in Zamfara yesterday were baseless,” the source said.
