8th February, 2025
Army Crushes Over 50 Terrorists, Captures Deadly Stronghold in Zamfara
In a resounding victory against terrorism, Nigerian Army troops of Operation FANSAN have stormed the notorious Tungan Fulani Hills in Zamfara State, neutralizing over 50 terrorists and inflicting severe injuries on at least 25 others.
This include top commanders of terror kingpins Bello Turji and Sani Mai Nasara (Sani Black).
The high-stakes battle, part of Operation FANSAR YAN BINDIGA, saw the elimination of dreaded terrorists such as Kachallah Sanni Bammuwa, Kachallah Auta, Audu Gajere, Kabiru Jangeru, Dan-Gajere, and Bako Malaika, a known menace around Tungan Dan Musa.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter insurgency expert, this marks the first successful military takeover of Tungan Fulani Hills in years, a once-impregnable terrorist stronghold in the Zurmi-Shinkafi axis.
The area, which had witnessed five failed military offensives, had become a fortress of terror, with past ambushes leaving scores of troops dead and military equipment destroyed.
Tungan Fulani Hills has long been a safe haven for terrorists, playing host to the infamous 2019 ambush that left a Major and 16 soldiers dead under the brutal command of Bello Turji and Sani Black. Following the massacre, the military withdrew, ceding control of Mashema District to terrorist rule.
On August 30, 2024, Turji’s fighters struck again, launching a devastating raid on troops in Kwashebawa village, burning Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and killing two soldiers.
But this time, the tide has turned.
With Operation Show No Mercy in full swing, military forces have vowed to wipe out every trace of terrorist activity.
Military defense sources have declared a zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.
“The mission is clear – we are not just pushing them out; we are wiping them out. Bello Turji, Sani Black, and their fighters have only two options: surrender or face total annihilation. There will be no negotiations, no hiding places, and no escape routes,” a top military official warned.
With Tungan Fulani Hills serving as a major arms smuggling corridor from Niger Republic and Mali, intelligence reports reveal that Turji and his men had been using the hilly terrain as a weapons depot, a staging ground for ambushes, and a launchpad for kidnappings along major highways.
The military’s victory has crippled their supply chain and cut off their escape routes.
Following the crushing defeat, terrorists are fleeing in disarray, prompting the military to expand its operations beyond Zamfara into Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kaduna States to prevent their regrouping.
Security agencies are calling on local communities to cooperate with intelligence officers and report any suspicious movements to ensure fleeing terrorists are swiftly captured.
“This war will not stop until every terrorist camp is burned to the ground, every leader is neutralized, and every fugitive is hunted down. The fight is far from over, but the message is clear—terrorists have nowhere to hide in Nigeria,” a senior military official declared.
