A renewed wave of violence has rocked Zamfara State as notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, reportedly led a brutal ambush that claimed the lives of at least 44 security personnel near Shinkafi Local Government Area. The victims include 40 members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and four Nigerian Army soldiers, according to a widely circulated report by security analyst @Bakatsine on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, June 25, 2025.
The ambush, which took place in a forested zone between Shinkafi and Isa in Sokoto State, marks one of the bloodiest attacks on security forces in Nigeria this year. The operatives were said to be responding to intelligence reports of bandit activity in the area when they came under heavy fire from Turji’s men, who were reportedly well-armed and strategically positioned.
Eyewitness accounts and local sources suggest the attackers used rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns, overwhelming the security team in a matter of minutes. The bodies of the slain officers were later recovered and moved to Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, under tight security.
While the Nigerian military has yet to issue an official statement on the attack, local authorities and civil society groups have condemned the incident, calling it a grave indictment of the worsening security situation in the North-West region.
“This is a national tragedy. Our brave security men are being slaughtered in the line of duty while trying to protect communities,” said Kabir Ibrahim, a security analyst and Zamfara native. “Turji and his gang continue to operate with impunity.”
Bello Turji has been a key figure in the North-West’s banditry crisis for several years. Despite reports of peace overtures in the past, his group has remained one of the most feared, known for large-scale killings, kidnappings, and ambushes against civilians and security forces alike.
This latest attack has sparked fresh calls for a change in strategy by the federal government, especially with growing concerns about intelligence lapses and inadequate coordination among security agencies. Residents in the affected areas are now living in heightened fear, with some reportedly fleeing their villages amid rumors of further attacks.
As Nigeria grapples with multiple security threats from terrorism, banditry, and separatist agitations, the massacre of 44 personnel in Zamfara underscores the urgent need for not just military action, but a holistic security reform that addresses the root causes of rural violence and insurgency.
The government is expected to respond in the coming days, but for many in Zamfara and across the North-West, the lingering question remains: how long will this cycle of bloodshed continue?
