A violent clash between foot soldiers loyal to notorious bandit Bello Turji and members of the Zamfara Civilian Protection Guard near Cida village in Shinkafi Local Government Area has left over 100 people dead. The clash occurred on Monday when the CPG, supported by the Borno State Civilian JTF, launched an assault on Turji’s camp to capture him dead or alive.
According to an indigene of the area, Sa’idu Garba, the CPG was led by a repentant bandit, Bashari Meniyo, who mobilized his men without the knowledge of security agents. Turji, however, got wind of the planned attack and quickly mobilized his men, who numbered over 1,000.
The ensuing gun battle lasted several hours, with both sides suffering heavy losses. Garba confirmed that over 100 of Turji’s men were killed, although the bandit leader narrowly escaped. He also confirmed the loss of over 20 CPG members, including their leader, Bashari Meniyo.
Another resident, Mohammed Sani, described how his village was thrown into panic as gunfire echoed through the area. “I heard several gunshots when the two groups were exchanging fire yesterday,” he said. “Most of the people of my village left their houses and ran helter-skelter to avoid being killed.”
The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the area and the effectiveness of security agencies in responding to such incidents. The Special Assistant to Governor Dauda Lawal on Media and Communications, Mustafa Kaura, confirmed the incident but could not confirm the number of casualties. An investigation is underway to determine the actual number of casualties and the circumstances surrounding the clash.
