U.S. Navy Adm. Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, meets with General Christopher Musa, Chief of the Defense Staff of Nigeria, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., January 19, 2024. (DOD photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Nieves)
The threat issued by bandit leader Bello Turji to destroy Zamfara State if his associate, Baka Burgi, arrested by the military, is not released before the end of December has been described as a brazen challenge to the Nigerian Army.
Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara, voiced his concerns while addressing journalists at his Gusau residence on Sunday night.
The Nigerian Army had apprehended top bandit leader Baka Wurgi, also known as Baka Na Garba, on December 14. Wurgi is suspected of involvement in the killing of the Emir of Gobir in Sokoto State, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Bawa.
The arrest was carried out following intelligence reports that Wurgi was receiving treatment for injuries sustained during a clash with a rival bandit group at a hospital in Shinkafi, Zamfara State.
In retaliation, Turji demanded Wurgi’s immediate release and threatened to unleash devastating attacks on communities in Zamfara and Sokoto states if his demand was not met.
Reacting to Turji’s ultimatum, Shinkafi described it as a grave insult to Nigeria’s security forces and called for urgent action.
“The video clip Turji released last Wednesday is a direct affront to the Nigerian Army and our security agencies. The authorities must act swiftly to protect their integrity and safeguard innocent citizens,” Shinkafi stated.
He added, “It is alarming that a bandit leader can issue such threats without facing immediate consequences. His accomplice, Baka Wurgi, was arrested by the military from his hospital bed in Shinkafi, yet Turji dares to threaten mass destruction if Wurgi is not released. This impunity must end.”
Shinkafi expressed concern over the fear gripping local communities, revealing that many villages in Shinkafi, Zurmi, and Isa Local Government Areas have been deserted.
“Turji has vowed to destroy villages, displace residents from their ancestral homes, and continue his reign of kidnapping and killing if his demands are not met. This has turned once-thriving communities into ghost towns,” he noted.
He urged immediate intervention from state and federal governments to prevent further escalation.
“I call on the governments of Zamfara and Sokoto states, as well as the federal government, to act without delay. Security forces must rise to the challenge and confront these criminals decisively. More than 50 communities in Shinkafi Local Government Area alone have already been abandoned due to these threats,” Shinkafi lamented.
He concluded with a call for decisive military action, stating, “Now is the time to reinforce security presence and reclaim these areas from criminal elements. Any delay could have catastrophic consequences for the affected communities.”
