Minister: Turji on the run, many terrorist commanders killed

The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru, says the notorious terrorist leader, Bello Turji, has been on the run as a result of sustained offensives by military personnel in recent time.

Badaru said this during a ministerial briefing on the activities of the ministry in Abuja on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

The minister stated that troops also killed several key terrorist leaders, including Maza Barume Madaro, Kachalla Alhaji Dati, Bani Wala Burki, Kachalla Dogo Kwaden, Chairman Hanazuma, Kachalla Bandiyo, and Maiyara Madaci.

Others killed were Alhaji Karki, Kachalla Makore, Zakiru, and Okachalla Azarailu.

Badaru said troops are neutralising the bandits by the day, adding that the leaders are going down by day.

He said: “Recently, there has been a renewed impetus to all our operations across the country, translating into commendable achievement, specifically in the Northeast.

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“Despite the recent short-lived desperation of the terrorists, troops have responded excessively and turned a devastating blow across the theatres.”

Badaru assured Nigerians of the commitment of the military to address all the prevailing security challenges, adding that they were doubling their intelligence to nip them in the bud.

He said Nigeria’s security challenges were deeply rooted in decades-long social and political fractures, economic dislocation, transnational borders influence, and global terrorism metrics that continue to mutate beyond classical military doctrines.

The minister stated: President Bola Tinubu’s firm directive that ‘Enough is Enough’ signals enforcement of political will, which also charges us to double our effort in collaboration of all stakeholders towards overcoming the security challenges in this nation.

“Thus, under the leadership and direction of the president, the Ministry of Defence has coordinated joint efforts through intelligence sharing, coordinated various kinetic, and non-kinetic efforts to defeat the insurgents.”

The Star