Deadly Clash Between Civilian Task Force and Bandits in Zamfara Leaves Heavy Casualties

 A violent gun battle in Zamfara State between the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and bandits led by Bello Turji resulted in numerous casualties on June 25, with exact figures unconfirmed. 

The clash occurred in a forest near Dansadau, where the CJTF aimed to disrupt Turji’s operations, notorious for kidnappings and attacks that claimed 1,500 lives in Zamfara in 2024. The confrontation escalated when bandits ambushed the task force, leading to a three-hour firefight involving automatic weapons and improvised explosives.

The CJTF, formed in 2023 to complement military efforts, lost at least 20 members, while unverified reports suggest up to 30 bandits were killed. Turji, a wanted terrorist with a N50 million bounty, escaped, intensifying calls for his capture. The clash destroyed 10 CJTF vehicles and displaced 2,000 villagers, who fled to nearby Gusau. Governor Dauda Lawal deployed 500 additional troops and allocated N500 million for relief, including food and medical aid for affected communities.

The incident underscores Zamfara’s security crisis, with 3,000 kidnappings recorded in 2024. Community leaders criticized the CJTF’s lack of training, urging federal support for a 10,000-strong regional security force. The military plans to establish a permanent base in Dansadau by Q1 2026 to curb banditry, which has cost Nigeria $1 billion in economic losses annually. Efforts to negotiate with Turji’s group, attempted in 2023, have collapsed, leaving residents fearful of reprisal attacks.