Zamfara bandits kill operatives near Shinkafi, including soldiers and JTF members, in a deadly ambush led by notorious warlord Bello Turji

[dropcap]Z[/dropcap]amfara bandits kill operatives in a fresh wave of violence near Shinkafi Local Government Area, leaving at least 48 security agents dead in a brutal ambush reportedly led by notorious warlord Bello Turji.

Also read: Zamfara Airstrike: 16 vigilantes killed amid military offensive against bandits

No fewer than 48 security operatives have been killed following a violent ambush by rampaging bandits near Shinkafi, Zamfara State.

The deadly attack, which occurred over the weekend, targeted members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the Nigerian Army.

Eyewitnesses and security sources confirmed that the ambush was coordinated by the infamous militia leader Bello Turji, who appeared in a viral video celebrating with his gang beside the corpses of the slain operatives.

Sources told Peoples Gazette that some of the attackers were individuals previously rehabilitated under a social reintegration programme launched by former Zamfara Governor, Bello Matawalle.

The initiative, which aimed to de-escalate conflict through amnesty, has now raised fresh questions about its efficacy and unintended consequences.

In the two years since the current government took office, over 10,000 Nigerians have died in banditry-related attacks.

The ambush comes amid growing insecurity in Nigeria’s North West region, where armed groups have terrorised communities with impunity.

The military and law enforcement agencies continue to grapple with mounting casualties and operational setbacks in their efforts to contain the violence.

Only weeks ago, global human rights watchdog Amnesty International reported that over 10,000 Nigerians had been killed in banditry-related attacks since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

According to the report, Zamfara is among the worst-hit states, with scores of villages destroyed and thousands displaced.

“The displacement of farming communities has triggered a major food crisis,” Amnesty said, noting that most of the victims were rural farmers who could no longer access or cultivate their land.

The Federal Government has yet to issue a formal statement on the Shinkafi ambush.

Also read: UDC demands state of emergency in Zamfara over spiralling insecurity

Meanwhile, calls for a comprehensive security overhaul continue to dominate public discourse, as citizens demand accountability and more decisive action.