The Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development have stated that ongoing military operations in northwest Nigeria are effectively addressing the issue of banditry in the region. In a statement released on Saturday, Sani Shinkafi, the group’s executive director, highlighted the positive outcomes of the military’s intensified efforts against bandits.
Shinkafi noted that since President Bola Tinubu directed Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defense, and other military leaders to relocate to Sokoto, there has been a noticeable increase in successful raids on bandit hideouts.
The organization reported that numerous notorious armed bandits operating in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kaduna states have been neutralized through what they described as a “highly effective, coordinated military operation.” The statement indicated that bandit kingpin Bello Turji and his associates are currently in disarray, facing either surrender or death, similar to what happened to their mentor, Habibu Sububu.
The Patriots for Peace and Social Development urged the minister of state for defense, the chief of defense staff, and other security agencies to escalate military actions in the northwest to eliminate these criminal groups. They emphasized the need to target Bello Turji specifically at his primary camp located in the Fakai forest area of Shinkafi Local Government in Zamfara State.
With the deaths of many bandit leaders, the capture of numerous fighters, and the rescue of hostages from their camps, the group believes that bandits are experiencing unprecedented disarray, marking a significant shift in the situation for the first time in over ten years.
Additionally, the group warned politicians against undermining the military’s efforts in combating banditry, expressing confidence that the armed forces have the capability to end this persistent threat.
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