Security analyst Zagazola Makama has dismissed widespread reports claiming that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji was killed in a recent United States airstrike in Nigeria's north-west region.
According to Zagazola's fact-checking investigation, Turji remains alive and has sought refuge in Dubagale, an area north of Dan Adama village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, approximately 25 kilometres from the border with Niger Republic.
"The reports are entirely unfounded. Bello Turji was not killed in any airstrike," the statement read, adding that he has simply relocated closer to the Niger border amid ongoing security operations.
The misinformation appears to have spread rapidly online, possibly amplified by unverified social media posts, YouTube videos, and recycled stories linked to intensified counter-terrorism efforts, including recent US strikes targeting other militant groups in Sokoto.
Bello Turji, one of Nigeria's most wanted bandits, primarily operates in Zamfara and adjacent states. He has been implicated in numerous high-profile incidents involving mass killings, abductions, and the forced displacement of entire communities over several years.
While the US airstrikes have been confirmed to target terrorist hideouts with Nigerian authorities reporting no civilian casualties, the specific claims tying them to Turji's elimination lack evidence and have been refuted by credible security sources.
This development highlights the challenges of verifying information in conflict zones, where rumors often outpace facts. Security forces continue operations aimed at neutralizing Turji and similar threats in the region.
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