Renowned security analyst and counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama has revealed alarming developments regarding notorious bandit leader Bello Turji. Taking to his official X handle, Makama reported the establishment of a new base by Turji in the dense Indaduwa Forest, situated approximately three kilometers northwest of the village of Bula, near the volatile boundaries of Gundumi, Galadi, Maradun, and Raba.
This new hideout, reportedly set up three weeks ago, has become a nerve center for criminal activities that have thrown the region into turmoil. Recent attacks, including the blockade of the Isa-Marnona road, have been traced back to Turji’s newly fortified camp.
Sources reveal that Turji’s gang, now operating from the Indaduwa Forest, has unleashed a wave of ambushes, kidnappings, and extortion targeting unsuspecting travelers and residents. Informants embedded in nearby communities such as Illela and Marnona allegedly provide critical intelligence to the gang, facilitating the swift movement of ransom payments and operational logistics.
On the night of December 21, Turji’s operatives ambushed security personnel along the Gundumi-Isa road. Using the cover of darkness and the element of surprise, they inflicted significant casualties before retreating into their heavily fortified enclave. Witness accounts paint a chilling picture of the gang’s growing audacity and tactical coordination.
Impeccable sources have identified two primary reasons for the establishment of Turji’s Indaduwa stronghold:
1. Rivalry with the Maniya Group:
Turji’s longstanding feud with the Maniya group, inherited from his father, Rugga Chida, has escalated into a deadly conflict. The feud dates back to a violent clash years ago that claimed the life of Maniya leader Kachalla Dullun. Turji’s new base is strategically positioned to undermine the Maniya group’s dominance in the Dutsin Gwauro area, their traditional stronghold.
2. Thwarting Government Security Efforts:
Determined to maintain his control over the region, Turji is reportedly targeting government plans to establish a security outpost in the Gundumi Forest. His recent ambushes and show of force are seen as attempts to discourage security agencies from gaining a foothold in the area, further cementing his dominance.
Turji’s gang includes infamous members such as Dan Kwaro, Ila Manawa, Duna, and Sani Black, all of whom have shifted their operations to the Indaduwa base. The gang’s reach now extends to the fringes of Galadi, Maradun, Gundumi, and Raba, making them a formidable force in the region.
Reports indicate that over 40 hostages, including women and children, are currently being held in the Indaduwa camp. Survivors who recently escaped captivity corroborate these claims, revealing harrowing details of life under Turji’s reign of terror. Ransom payments are allegedly funneled through intermediaries in Marnona and Gidan Rana, ensuring a steady flow of funds to sustain the group’s operations.
Bello Turji’s strategic expansion into Indaduwa Forest represents a significant escalation in the banditry crisis plaguing Nigeria’s northwest. His ability to establish and maintain such a base underscores the persistent challenges security forces face in curbing banditry.
As government forces strategize a response, communities in the affected regions remain gripped by fear, hoping for swift and decisive action to dismantle Turji’s network and restore peace to the beleaguered areas.
PIONEER NEWS 