Twenty-four bandits, including seven senior leaders of the infamous bandit lord Bello Turji, have been killed by Nigerian military participating in Operation FANSAN YANMA.
The development follows a week-long operation against banditry in the Northwest by Nigerian troops.
Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, made this known in a post on his X account on Wednesday.
Makama reported that the operations were carried out by Special Forces of the Nigerian Army’s 1 Brigade and the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Services in several bandit hideouts in Gebe village, Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Citing intelligence, he claimed that the week-long onslaught, which was intended to destroy Turji’s operational network, targeted camps and hideouts in the criminally active areas of Shinkafi and Isa LGAs.
The security expert added that the operation involved ground troops supported by precision airstrikes by the Air Components and intelligence-driven raids.
Abu Dan Shehu, Jabbi Dogo, Dan Kane, Basiru Yellow, Kabiru Gebe, Bello Buba, and Dan Inna Kahon Saniya (also known as Yafi Bahaushe) were among the seven well-known commanders who were rendered ineffective.
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“These individuals were pivotal to Turji’s operations, coordinating attacks, managing logistics, and facilitating the movement of arms and supplies across the region. The leadership and operational capacities of the gang are severely damaged by their removal,” Makama stated.
He added that the operation was marked by sustained engagements, including ambushes, search-and-destroy missions, and strategic airstrikes.
