Nigerian forces of Operation FANSAN YANMA have successfully neutralized 24 bandits, including seven high-ranking leaders of the renowned bandit boss, Bello Turji.
This comes after a week-long Nigerian military campaign against banditry in the Northwest.
This was announced on Wednesday by Zagazola Makama, a counterterrorism and insurgency specialist in the Lake Chad Basin, in a post on his X account.
Special Forces from the Nigerian Army’s 1 Brigade and the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Services conducted the operations in a number of bandit hideouts in Gebe village, Isa Local Government Area, Sokoto State, according to Makama.
Citing intelligence sources, he claimed that the week-long offensive, which was intended to destroy Turji’s operational network, targeted camps and hideouts in the criminally active areas of Shinkafi and Isa LGAs.
According to the security expert, the operation included intelligence-driven raids and precision bombings by the Air Components to help ground troops.
The following seven well-known commanders were eliminated: Bello Buba, Basiru Yellow, Kabiru Gebe, Dan Kane, Jabbi Dogo, Abu Dan Shehu, and Dan Inna Kahon Saniya (also known as Yafi Bahaushe).
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These people were essential to Turji’s operations because they oversaw logistics, planned attacks, and made it easier for supplies and weapons to move throughout the area. Their elimination throws a tremendous damage to the gang’s leadership and operational capabilities,” Makama said.
He stated that the operation was distinguished by sustained confrontations, involving ambushes, search-and-destroy missions, and strategic airstrikes.
