The Defence Headquarters in Nigeria has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that notorious terrorist leader, Bello Turji, has been arrested.
Viral online reports claim troops of Operation Fasan Yamma in the North West had nabbed the wanted terror king on Tuesday.
But Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, has urged the public to disregard the report.
In a terse statement sighted by Diaspora Digital Media, Major General Buba stated that “All news regarding the arrest of Bello Turji by troops should be treated as fake news, please.”
So, who is Bello Turji?
He’s a notorious Nigerian terrorist and bandit leader operating primarily in North-western Nigeria, particularly in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger states.
Reportedly born in 1994 in Shinkafi, Zamfara State, Turji and his gang have been responsible for numerous abductions, massacres and terrorist attacks against civilians and security forces in the region.
Turji’s rise to notoriety began after claiming that his family’s cattle were stolen by a pro-security forces vigilante group, leading to the murder of six of his siblings.
He has since justified his actions as reprisals against attacks on Fulani bandits and civilians, believing that Fulani people are being subjected to genocide in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has been working to combat the growing insecurity in the region, and while there have been reports of military operations against Turji’s group, his arrest has not been confirmed.