Reports indicate that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has established a new base in the Indaduwa Forest, situated approximately 3 kilometers northwest of the village of Bula, near the borders of Gundumi, Galadi, Maradun, and Raba. The establishment of this base, believed to have occurred about three weeks ago, has been linked to a surge in criminal activities, including ambushes, kidnappings, and attacks on travelers and local residents.
Sources have revealed that Turji’s group is believed to have carried out several operations from this new base, including the blockade of the Isa-Marnona road. Informants in Illela and Marnona are reportedly aiding Turji’s gang, facilitating the movement of ransom payments and providing intelligence on security forces’ movements.
On the night of December 21, Turji’s operatives allegedly ambushed security personnel on the Gundumi-Isa road, using the element of surprise to inflict significant casualties before retreating into the Indaduwa Forest. Witnesses reported that the attackers exploited their knowledge of the terrain to evade capture.
Two primary reasons appear to have driven Turji to establish this new base. First, his longstanding feud with the Maniya group, which dates back to conflicts involving his father, Rugga Chida. This feud climaxed years ago with the death of Kachalla Dullun, a prominent Maniya figure, further deepening the animosity between the two groups. Turji reportedly sees the Indaduwa Forest as a strategic position to undermine the Maniya group’s control in the Dutsin Gwauro area, which has long served as their operational hub.
Second, Turji is believed to be determined to thwart the establishment of a planned security outpost in the Gundumi Forest. His recent attacks are viewed as efforts to prevent government forces from gaining a foothold in the region.
Prominent members of Turji’s gang, including Dan Kwaro, Ila Manawa, Duna, and Sani Black, are reported to have shifted their operations to this new base. The gang’s reach now extends to areas bordering Galadi, Maradun, Gundumi, and Raba. It is estimated that over 40 individuals are currently being held captive in the Indaduwa Forest, with ransom payments funneled through informants stationed in Marnona and Gidan Rana, near the Gundumi-Isa road.
Survivors who have recently regained freedom have confirmed the continued presence and operations of Turji’s gang in the area, raising fears of further attacks and abductions unless decisive action is taken.
The Kwara State Police Command, along with other security agencies, continues to grapple with the escalating threat posed by banditry, as efforts to neutralize Turji and his gang face significant challenges.
