The second-in-command to the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has been killed in an operation by the Nigerian Military.
Aminu Kanawa, the Defence Headquarters said, was killed alongside 31 other bandits by troops of Operation Fansan Yamma.
Several other members of the bandit group, including a younger brother to the notorious criminal leader was injured during the operation by troops.
This development comes barely 72 hours after the military launched an operation in the criminals’ hideout killing some of Turji’s fighters and his son.
The Nigerian military in a statement also threw jabs at the bandit leader for abandoning his son.
The director of defence media operations, Major General Edward Buba while giving update on some of the activities of the military in the Northwest region on Wednesday, January 22, said seven other key commanders of Turji were also killed.
According to Buba, some of Turji’s close allies who suffered one injury or the other are Dosso (Bello Turji’s younger brother) and Danbokolo (one of Turji’s closest allies).
He said, “Additionally, troops neutralised several of Bello Turji’s key commanders namely: Abu Dan Shehu, Jabbi Dogo, Dan Kane, Basiru Yellow, Kabiru Gebe, Bello Buba and Dan Inna Kahon-Saniya-Yafi-Bahaushe, among others. Furthermore, troops neutralised over 24 fleeing terrorists from Bello Turji’s Camp around Gebe and Isa LGA of Sokoto State, as well as around Gidan Rijiya in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara State.”
“Troops also neutralised another notable terrorist during the onslaught on Bello Turji’s Enclave around Fakai high ground. He is identified as Suleiman, and a loyalist of late notorious terrorist leader, Halilu Sububu. The late, Suleiman was leading a reinforcement team to rescue Bello Turji’s Camp which was in disarray, when he was eliminated during the firefight,” Buba said.
He further stated that the death of Turji’s second-in-command and close allies are significant to the military’s commitment to ending banditary and terrorism in Nigeria
He also stated that the military and its troops would continue to secure lives and property of citizens and ensure that kidnapping and killings in the regions become a thing of the past
