Credible sources, including security analyst Zagazola Makama, revealed that Turji, a top fugitive wanted for orchestrating kidnappings, cattle rustling, and mass killings across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina states has fortified his position in the forest with armed militants and stolen livestock. 

The sighting, reported just days ago, comes as the bandit overlord reportedly filmed a video message but withheld its release over concerns of aerial surveillance and drone strikes. 

This development showcases the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between security forces and entrenched criminal networks exploiting Zamfara’s rugged terrain.

The alert coincides with a brazen bandit assault on Wednesday, October 1, at an illegal gold mining site in the Kokamba fields of Magami District, Gusau Local Government Area, a hotspot for illicit operations that have long fueled bandit economies through extortion and resource grabs. Eyewitnesses described how, around 1:30 p.m., heavily armed assailants stormed the site, unleashing a hail of gunfire on unsuspecting workers before vanishing into adjacent forests. 

One miner was killed in the crossfire, his body hastily transported to a nearby village for burial, leaving the community gripped by panic.Local resident Abubakar Ibrahim recounted the chaos to The Guardian, noting the attack’s sudden ferocity: 

“The gunmen came without warning, shooting indiscriminately. We fear this could spark reprisals against Fulani herders, who are often blamed even when innocent.” 

The incident has amplified longstanding tensions in Magami, where artisanal mining has become a magnet for bandit incursions, with groups imposing “taxes” on operators and clashing over control of lucrative veins.

Zamfara State Police spokesperson DSP Yazid Abubakar confirmed the mining attack, linking it to broader insecurity patterns in the region. 

Security agencies, including troops under Operation Fansan Yamma, have ramped up patrols and issued appeals for public calm. 

“Residents are urged to stay vigilant, report suspicious activities, and avoid unverified mining ventures that expose them to danger,” a joint statement read. 

Investigations are underway to determine if Turji’s network was involved, though no direct claims of responsibility have surfaced.

This flare-up arrives against a backdrop of intensified military pressure on bandit factions. Just last month, troops neutralized several high-profile kingpins, including Turji’s former ally Kachalla Na Faranshi in nearby Zurmi forests. 

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed Turji as a “dead man walking,” vowing relentless operations to dismantle his syndicate.