Bandits didn’t seize military vehicles – Zamfara Residents

Some residents of Zurmi town in Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state have dispelled rumors about seizure of two Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicles from soldiers by a Bandit Kingpin, Bello Truji.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Trust, a resident of Zurmi town, Abdullahi Dogo (not real name) said the bandits never seized the vehicles from the soldiers, rather they found them stuck in a bush and set them on fire.

Dogo explained that the unfortunate incident happened last Friday in Kwasabawa village while the soldiers were going into the bush for operation when suddenly their APCs got stuck half way into the bush.

“The information we got was that the soldiers got a tip-off that the bandits were holding a meeting in a location inside the forest, therefore decided to reach the place with a view to fighting them but unfortunately their APCs failed them.

• Inside story of how Turji’s gang accessed military vehicle in Zamfara forest
• Terrorist kingpin, foot soldiers killed in Kaduna

“Initially, the soldiers and personnel of the Zamfara Community Protection Guards (CPG) guarded the army vehicles to prevent the bandits from accessing them, but they later abandoned it and left the scene.”

Another resident of the area, who requested anonymity, said had it been the military got reinforcement in time the incident wouldn’t have happened; saying the bandits would not have accessed the vehicles not to talk of destroying them.

He said: “Actually, the bandits did not engage the soldiers in gun fire and seized the army vehicles. They only met them there after the soldiers had left the place.

“In fact, the soldiers stayed around the APCs for almost an half of an hour before they finally abandoned it and left. The soldiers have tried their best to protect the vehicles but I am suspecting that they were ordered from their superiors to leave the place.”

The bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, and his boys, numbering about 30 were featured in a video clip that went viral on social media platforms claiming they seized the Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) from the soldiers.

The bandits were seen in the video removing two boxes suspected to be contain ammunition and other items from the abandoned APC before they finally set them ablaze.

Another resident of Zurmi, Mahammad Na Zurmi (not real name), said there was palpable fear and tension among residents of Zurmi and the neighboring communities following the unfortunate incident.

Na Zurmi lamented that residents were not happy with the unfortunate development, as according to him “this is a serious setback not only to the military but to the residents of the area as well. The soldiers were here to protect our lives, so whatever happens to them or their equipment, it will affect their operations and by extension the communities.”