A brutal confrontation between fighters loyal to notorious bandit Bello Turji and members of the Zamfara Civilian Protection Guard (CPG) has left over 120 people feared dead in Cida village, Shinkafi LGA, Zamfara State.
The clash occurred on Monday during a surprise assault launched by the CPG, reportedly backed by Borno’s Civilian JTF, with the mission of capturing Turji dead or alive.
The raid, allegedly led by a repentant bandit, Bashari Meniyo, backfired when Turji’s camp received advance warning.
Turji reportedly mobilised over 1,000 fighters who engaged the CPG in a bloody battle that lasted several hours.
Over 100 of Turji’s men were reportedly killed, but Turji himself escaped. At least 20 CPG members, including Meniyo, also lost their lives.
Residents described scenes of chaos and gunfire as villagers fled for safety. A source lamented that had security forces intervened promptly, Turji may have been neutralized.
The Zamfara government confirmed the clash but withheld casualty figures pending investigation.
Military authorities have yet to respond to inquiries, sparking concerns over the ongoing security vacuum in the region.
