The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared notorious bandit leader Bello Turji a “dead man walking,” dismissing his recent threats against the military and communities in Zamfara State as empty rhetoric.
In a widely circulated video, Turji accused the military of targeting elderly civilians and demanded the release of a detained ally, Baka Wurgi.
He also threatened to unleash terror on Zamfara residents in 2025 if his demands were unmet.
Reacting at an end-of-year briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, vowed that Turji would meet the same fate as other neutralized terrorist leaders.
“Bello Turji is merely a dead man walking. It would be insulting to engage in a war of words with a terrorist. Before him, others who dared to boast against security forces have all been neutralized. The same fate awaits Turji and his likes,” Buba said.
Buba further reiterated the military’s resolve to eliminate terrorist leaders, saying, “These so-called terrorist leaders who think they are untouchable will eventually meet their end. Many have been buried on the battlefield, and 2025 will see the same fate for others. Their time is up.”
Addressing Amnesty International’s call for an investigation into the accidental bombing in Sokoto, Buba affirmed the military’s willingness to cooperate, provided the rights group honors an earlier invitation to discuss its allegations against the armed forces.
“We invited Amnesty International to discuss their allegations against us, which we found shocking and misleading. We await their response. When they honor that invitation, we will address their latest request,” Buba said.
He urged Nigerians to disregard terrorist propaganda surrounding the Sokoto incident, adding, “Terrorists thrive on propaganda. Don’t let them manipulate the narrative. The bombing targeted terrorists, not innocent civilians.”
Highlighting the achievements of 2024, Buba disclosed that over 10,000 terrorists were neutralized, 12,538 arrested, and 7,063 kidnapped victims rescued during military operations nationwide.
“During the year, we neutralized 10,937 terrorists, arrested 12,538, and rescued 7,063 hostages. We also recovered 8,815 weapons and 228,004 rounds of ammunition,” Buba revealed.
Key terrorist leaders eliminated include Dutse Mainasara Idda, Mallam Saleh Umaru, Mohammed Amadu, and Jeremiah Uzuoma.
In the fight against economic crimes, the military recovered stolen crude oil worth N68.4 billion and dismantled numerous oil theft operations.
“Troops recovered 56.2 million liters of stolen crude oil, 9.7 million liters of illegally refined AGO, and 156,527 liters of PMS. These efforts denied criminals an estimated N68.4 billion in revenue,” Buba detailed.
Buba expressed confidence in achieving decisive victories against terrorism in 2025, stating, “2024 showed us signs of major victories ahead. Over 10,000 terrorists were killed, and thousands surrendered, not just in the Northeast but also in the Northwest and North Central. This indicates the dwindling morale of the terrorists. Victory in 2025 is non-negotiable.”
