By Ishola Adeleke, YeyeNews.com, October 9, 2021
Turji, a bandits leader in Zamfara State has disclosed that the reason his group is relocating to the Sabon Birni area of Sokoto State has nothing to do with any impending Nigeria military assault. Rather, it was the more nationalistic and patriotic goal of defending the border of Nigeria against Niger Republic’s invasion that informed their relocation. Turji disclosed this in an exclusive interview with YeyeNews.com from his hideout.
“The army said we are running from them,” Turji laughed. “What we are actually doing is helping them. We know the army has no capacity to effectively defend the nation’s territorial integrity, so we decided to go secure that border when we heard that the Niger Republic military are planning to come into Nigeria through the Sabon Birni region of Sokoto. After we finish with Niger we can now face the Nigeria military squarely”, Turji explained.
The army spokesman however dismissed the claim of the bandits. “ These bandits are just ragtags. They can never match up to us. Our firepower is too much for them. We are just cautious not to destroy the natural vegetation in the area that is why we haven’t unleashed our full wrath against them. And it is not true that Niger Republic is planning any invasion. We invited them to come help us defeat these ragtag bandits”.
Another bandit leader who has also maintained a position in the area confirmed their intention to YeyeNews.com that they are there to repel the Niger Republic forces. “The Nigeria army called us ragtags but they are now claiming to have invited the Nigeriens to come help them defeat us. Isn’t that a contradiction? Rather than face us they have chosen to punish the poor by closing down their sources of livelihood. That’s cowardice. But let’s finish with these wannabe invaders then we can turn our attention to the cowards”.
Meanwhile, residents of Sabon Birni in Sokoto State have told YeyeNews.com reporter that they have been abandoned to the mercy of the bandits. “They have taken over the area. They eat from our food stores. No security agent is here to protect us. We are completely at their mercy”, a village head told YeyeNews.com reporter.
