Last year, on 10th September, General Chris Musa, the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), pledged to put an end to the reign of terror being orchestrated by the notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji in Northwestern Nigeria.
The promise was made during a press conference in Abuja in response to the outcries of the worried Nigerians who are suffering the torment of the notorious criminal attacks.
During the conference, General Musa boasted of the Nigeria military strength, pointing out that the Army will capture Turji in no time, and made him pay for the havoc he has caused within the region.
Since that period, several military figures with hierarchy have joined General Musa to reinforce the promise of eliminating the bandit leader.
However, Turji has grown wings over the months, as he extended his operations beyond Sokoto and Zamfara while terrorizing residents with impunity—causing killings, maiming, kidnapping and collecting ransom on people.
This has raised doubts on the mind of people if at all the Nigerian Army possesses the power to nab the notorious terrorist.
Who Is Bello Turji?
Bello Usmana Karchalla popularly known as Bello Turji is a bandit leader notorious for leading terrorism operations in Northwestern Nigeria, basically in Zamfara and Sokoto States. Due to the failure of the Nigerian Army to end his reign, he has now extended his attacks to Niger and Kebbi States.
In 2021, his men engaged in a notable horrific incident where his forces ambushed and set a bus on fire in Sabo Birnin, Sokoto—the incident that saw the 30 passengers in the bus being smoked alive after meeting their end.
In 2022, he led a gang of bandits to unleash a series of massacres in Zamfara State, killing almost 200 people, women and children included.
Turji did not limit his prey on civilians alone, he has constantly engaged in confrontations with special forces and military personnel. In June 2025, nothing less than 100 people lost their lives during a violent clash between members of his armed gang and Zamfara State special troops.
Over the years, Turji gangs have freely stormed several residences in the region, killing hundreds of people while kidnapping others for ransom. He was also alleged to be imposing tax on people’s farmlands before he can allow them to operate.
Within A Year Vowed By CDS Musa, Bello Turji Establishes Himself Online
In a well coordinated military invasion to nab Bello Turji, the Nigerian soldiers stormed his hideouts and food facilities where his son, together with key lieutenants were wiped out. However, Turji managed to escape.
In a shocking turn of event, the bandit leader has gone on rampage while boldened his operations in communities under his control.
Devising another tactic to his reign of terror, Turji now captures how he slaughtered his victims, as he posts the video online to dare the Nigerian security agencies.
One of such videos was when he displayed his kidnapped victims, and pegged a 50 million ransom on them before their release could be secured.
In another video, the bandit kingpin dressed himself in full military uniform, and surrounded by sophisticated weapons. He boldly challenged the Army Chief to gather all the weapons at his disposal and come after him.
Also, when Nigerian authorities arrested one of his closest ally and mentor, Bako Wurgi, he released a video online where he promised to retaliate to the arrest. And he did so as he kidnapped over 50 people when he raided Sokoto communities, leaving unspecified counts of people being killed.