Bello Turji’s Gang Claims Control Over Nigerian Army Armoured Personnel Carrier

Bandit kingpin Bello Turji and his gang have reportedly taken over an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) belonging to the Nigerian Army. A video circulating on social media shows Turji and his gang celebrating this significant acquisition.

During the seizure of the APC, Turji’s gang also reportedly obtained a significant amount of ammunition. The leader of the terrorist group has sent a warning to Nigerian soldiers, asserting that his gang is actively pursuing them.

ZagaZola Makama, a counterinsurgency and security expert focusing on the Lake Chad region, confirmed these developments. He noted that a distress report had been received by the troops indicating a high-level meeting of bandits at a specified location within Turji’s camp.

In response to the report, a team of troops was deployed to the area, under the command of a young officer. However, their vehicle became immobilized in the marshy terrain, which hindered their operations.

As the troops encountered difficulties, they came under heavy gunfire from the bandits, resulting in an intense firefight lasting several hours. According to Makama, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain, prevented air support from arriving quickly, permitting the bandits to reinforce their positions.

Efforts to extricate the stranded vehicles were unsuccessful as another military vehicle also became stuck in the mud. Shortly before additional reinforcements could arrive, the situation overwhelmed the troops on the ground, compelling them to withdraw while leaving behind their vehicles.

Following the encounter, Turji and his men celebrated their perceived victory, firing shots into the air and proclaiming that they had successfully expelled the troops and taken hold of their vehicles. As of now, the Nigerian Army has not issued a statement regarding this incident.