From Maiharaji Altine
A threat by bandits leader Bello Turji to destroy Zamfara state if his brother Baka Burgi arrested by the military was not released before December has been described as a slap in the face of the Nigerian army.
An APC stalwart in the state, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi stated this while speaking to newsmen on Sunday last night in his resident in Gusau town, the Zamfara State Capital.
Recall that, the Nigerian army had on December 14 this year arrested a top bandit leader, Bako Wurgi (alias Baka Na Garba) who is suspected to have been involved in the killing of the Emir of Gobir in Sokoto state, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Bawa.
The operation was carried out on December 14 at about 10pm following a tip-off that Wurgi was in a hospital in Shinkafi, Zamfara state, following injuries he sustained in a clash with some bandits’ rival group.
In a sharp reaction, a notorious bandits’ leader Bello Turji has called on the military to hasten the release of his colleague Baka Burgi or face his wrath.
In a video clip, Turji has threatened to launch attacks on the communities in Zamfara and Sokoto states if Burgi was not released before the end of this year.
However, addressing journalists Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi described the threat by Turji as a slap in the face of the Nigerian Army and other security personnel in the country.
Shinkafi whose community is among those to be attacked by Turji at the end of the deadline urged the security agents to act fast and finish with the notorious bandits’s kingpin Bello Turji before he wrecks havoc on the innocent people of the areas.
He stressed that, the video clip released by Turji last Wednesday was a serious slap in the face of the security personnel in the country, urging them to do something immediately in order to save their reputation.
Shinkafi said, “It is very unfortunate and a slap in the face of the Nigerian security apparatus where an armed bandits will be showing all kinds of threats to our local communities and he is still not arrested”.
“His accomplish, Baka Wurgi was admitted at the Shinkafi General hospital due to injuries he sustained during a fight with another bandits’ group and the military went to his hospital bed and whisked him away”.
“Now Bello Turji is warning that, unless his accomplish Baka Wurgi is released, he will destroy the entire communities to serve as a lesson to the security agents and nothing is being done”.
“Presently, many villages have been deserted and have turned into ghost villages just because of Turji’s pronouncement to attack the residents”.
“Turji has said it clearly in his video clip which I have just showed you now that he is going to destroy all the villages around Shinkafi, Zurmi and Isa local government areas”.
“He said that, he will send away people from their ancestral homes and will continue to kidnap me kill people if his brother Wurgi is not released on or before the end of December this year and the security personnel are listening”.
‘If he is allowed to launch such attacks, the people of these areas will suffer consequences”. Said Shinkafi.
He called on Zamfara and Sokoto states as well as the federal government to do something very urgent to save the people of the areas from the wickedness of Bello Turji.
“I am calling on Zamfara and Sokoto state governments as well as the federal government to act fast as there is no time for the delay”.
“This is the time for the security agents to wake up and squarely face these criminals”.
“The security agencies should deploy more security personnel to the ungoverned places within our areas”.
“As I am talking to you now, more than 50 communities have been deserted in Shinkafi local government area alone”. Concluded Shinkafi.
