Over 100 people were reportedly killed on Monday in a fierce gun battle near Cida village in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, as local security volunteers clashed with armed loyalists of notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji.
According to local sources, the fight broke out when members of the Zamfara Civilian Protection Guard (CPG), supported by the Borno State Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), stormed Turji’s camp in an attempt to capture him dead or alive.
The operation was reportedly led by a repentant bandit, Bashari Meniyo, without the knowledge or support of official security forces.
A resident, Sa’idu Garba, said, “They went straight to Turji’s camp under the leadership of Bashari Meniyo, but Turji got wind of the plan and quickly mobilised over 1,000 of his men.”
The clash reportedly lasted for hours, resulting in heavy casualties. “Over 100 of Turji’s fighters were killed, but Turji narrowly escaped,” Garba added. “Unfortunately, more than 20 CPG members, including Meniyo, were also killed.”
Another local, Mohammed Sani, said the entire area was thrown into panic as gunfire echoed through nearby villages, forcing many residents to flee for safety.
Special Assistant to the Zamfara State Governor on Media and Communications, Mustafa Kaura, confirmed the incident but said the government is still verifying the exact number of casualties.
The latest violence highlights the fragile security situation in Zamfara and the dangers of unofficial armed interventions without coordination with formal security agencies.
