A top aide of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, Shaudo Alku, has been confirmed killed in a recent military airstrike in Sokoto State.
The Nigerian Armed Forces announced that the air operation, conducted by the Air Component of Operation Fagge Yama, targeted a terrorist hideout near Tunfa Primary School in Isa Local Government Area on Sunday, May 19, 2025.
According to military intelligence, Alku crossed into Nigeria from Niger Republic to attend a secret strategy meeting organized by Turji’s network when the airstrike was launched.
He was killed alongside several other fighters, including suspected high-ranking commanders.
A military source revealed, “Surveillance and actionable intelligence enabled the Nigerian military to pinpoint the gathering, prompting a swift and precise air assault that neutralised multiple targets.”
Alku was a key figure in Turji’s network, heavily involved in arms procurement and coordination of cross-border insurgent activities.
“Alku was not just a foot soldier. He was deeply involved in arms procurement and coordination of cross-border insurgent activity.”
The Nigerian Army hailed the success of the operation as a significant blow to terrorist command structures in the North West.
“This operation marks a significant step in dismantling the command structure of terrorist groups operating across the North West,” the Army said in an official statement.
Bello Turji is considered one of the most dangerous terrorist leaders in the region, responsible for mass abductions, killings, and violent attacks across northern Nigeria.
His network operates across state and international borders, complicating military efforts.
Security experts say the elimination of Alku could disrupt Turji’s logistics and communication chains, but the fight is far from over.
“This is a big win, no doubt,” said Dr. Yusuf Anka, a conflict and security analyst. “But dismantling terrorist networks requires sustained pressure and coordination with neighbouring countries, especially Niger and Chad.”
Residents of Isa Local Government Area expressed relief.
“We heard the explosions and later saw helicopters. It gave us hope that the government has not forgotten us,” a resident said on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.
This strike is the latest in a series of aerial offensives under Operation Fagge Yama, a renewed campaign to eliminate terrorism and banditry in Nigeria’s troubled North West.
The military promised to release further updates on casualties and intelligence recovered from the operation.
