The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has promised to arrest the notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji.

Turji, known for his criminal activities in the Northwest, recently demanded an N30 million payment from the people of Moriki in Zurmi Local Government Area, Zamfara State, for their protection against attacks.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Musa called Turji “a deranged” person and guaranteed that he would be caught soon.

The Defence Chief also mentioned that they will tackle the issue of levies imposed by Turji and other bandits.

“Turji is just a deranged individual who feels powerful, but it’s only a matter of time before we catch him,” Musa said.

He assured that Turji’s capture is imminent and emphasized that they will address the issue of payments made to bandits.

“Bandits rely on these payments, which shows their desperation. Even if they get money, they can’t use it properly because it is ‘blood money’. We must work together with the armed forces and security agencies to prevent them from moving freely in our communities,” Musa added.

Musa pointed out that support from residents helps bandits continue their activities.

“Do not support them or give them information about troop movements, as this is how they keep operating. Many problems persist because of informants within the communities,” he said.

He also mentioned that military operations in the Northwest have been streamlined after a review.

“We have reviewed our operations and realized the need to combine them. Previously, we had Operation Hadrin Daiji and Operation Whirl Stroke in the Northwest. Now, we are merging these into one operation, similar to how Operation Hadin Kai was handled in the Northeast,” Musa explained.

The new unified operation will be called Operation Kasar Yamma, aimed at securing the Northwest. The goal is to combine all efforts to address the security challenges in the region.