Footage has emerged showing notorious bandit leader Bello Turji and his gang celebrating after capturing a Nigerian Army Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC). The videos reveal the gang’s successful takeover of the military vehicle and a significant cache of ammunition.
The incident was confirmed by ZagaZola Makama, a counterinsurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region. According to Makama, the Nigerian Army received a distress signal about a high-level meeting of bandits taking place at a location within Bello Turji’s camp.
In response, a team of soldiers, led by a young officer, was dispatched to the area. However, their mission faced a setback when their vehicle became trapped in the marshy terrain, hindering their progress.
Makama further explained that the troops came under heavy fire from the bandits, leading to an intense gunfight that lasted for several hours. Adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain, prevented air support from arriving on time, allowing the bandits to strengthen their position.
“The troops attempted to use another MRAP to extract the stuck vehicle, but it too got stuck in the mud,” Makama reported. “Another team of reinforcements was sent to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the situation had become overwhelming for the soldiers on the ground. They were unable to retrieve their vehicles and had to withdraw. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported in the encounter.”
Hours after the withdrawal, Turji and his gang returned to the scene, firing into the air and celebrating their victory, claiming they had driven off the troops and seized the military vehicles.
As of now, the Nigerian Army has not officially confirmed the incident.
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