A fierce gun battle deep in the forest ends in heavy losses for bandits as troops push deeper into notorious strongholds.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have dealt a major blow to banditry, neutralising dozens of fighters in a raid on hideouts linked to notorious kingpin Bello Turji.
The operation, carried out by the 8 Division Strike Force, targeted camps in the Fakai axis spanning Shinkafi and Isa LGAs of Zamfara and Sokoto states, with the assault kicking off in the early hours of March 20 inside the Kagara Forest.
Sources say troops faced a tense moment when two combat vehicles broke down near Maberaya village, forcing a temporary halt—before armed bandits launched an ambush from elevated, forested positions.
But the soldiers quickly regrouped, returning heavy fire and overpowering the attackers, killing several in the process.
The clash wasn’t without casualties, as three soldiers and one operative of the Department of State Services were injured and evacuated to a military hospital in Sokoto.
Meanwhile, authorities have dismissed viral claims that over 150 bandits drowned in a boat accident in Sabon Gida as false. The National Inland Waterways Authority also confirmed the report as fake, noting the river in question is not even navigable.
The operation marks another push by the military to dismantle bandit strongholds and restore security in the North-West.
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