Troops of the Nigerian Army have reportedly killed a son of Bello Turji, a notorious bandit terrorist leader, in a string of attacks on hideouts in Zamfara.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, the operation was carried out by officers of Operation Fansan Yanma.

The publication said the strikes were a combination of ground and air attacks which dismantled key hideouts in Fakai, a stronghold where Turji and his associates have long operated in the Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara.

Intelligence sources confirmed to Zagazola Makama that Turji lost family members and high-ranking lieutenants in the strikes and he could be heard over the radio panicking for support “from seven other bandit leaders”.

“We killed his son and many of his fighters during the operation. I also listened to Turji’s panicked voice calling for reinforcements from seven other bandit leaders. None of them showed up, and one of his spies narrowly escaped from us today,” one of the sources said.

Among the camps targeted were Zangon Dan Gwandi, Zangon Tsaika, Zangon Kagara, and a school reportedly used by Turji to store foodstuffs and weapons. The military burned the school to prevent it from serving as a supply base for Turji’s network.

The operation was led by special forces with support from the General Officer Commanding (GOC). The special forces are supplemented by personnel from the Navy’s Special Boat Service (SBS), provided by the theatre command.

Zagazola Makama added that intelligence noted that Turji was last sighted at Zangon Gebe, surrounded by his heavily armed fighters.

The military has declared Turji a “dead man walking”, and troops promised to eliminate him and end his operations in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger states.