The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has revealed that wanted terrorist kingpin Bello Turji is currently in a state of panic due to the intensified military operations against terrorists in the North West region of Nigeria.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during NAN’s inaugural Annual International Lecture on Thursday in Abuja, Musa elaborated that the recent killing of Halilu Buzu and several other terrorist commanders has significantly unsettled Turji and his faction.
Musa pointed out that Turji’s recent actions are indicative of his panic. “You can see from the action that he is taking; you will know that he is in a state of panic. He used to be emboldened to go and talk as if he is the only one in charge. Now he knows he is not in charge. He knows it is a matter of time because Halilu Buzu that was killed was his master. So now that he knows his commander is gone, he knows he is next, and all that he is doing now is mere noise-making,” he said.
The CDS confirmed that military operations against terrorist factions would persist, resulting in the continued elimination of terrorists. He attributed the prolonged insecurity in the region to poverty, illiteracy, and poor governance, which have led to a large population of disaffected youth.
Musa acknowledged the challenges posed by Nigeria’s extensive borders, stating, “The more we take them out, the more are joining them, and then you remember, we have 1,500 kilometers border with Niger Republic. We have another border with Benin Republic, and so a lot of people filter in and out within Nigeria. So efforts are being made to ensure that we secure those borders to deny them the ability to move in.”