In a significant revelation, the Nigerian government, through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), disclosed that a group of terrorists, allegedly linked to notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji, acquired a military gun truck from Libya for N28.5 million.
This acquisition, carried out in 2021, was allegedly funded partly in cash and partly through electronic transfer. The truck was reportedly supplied to a terrorist group led by Kachalla Halilu, a known associate of Turji. This act is part of a broader set of charges the suspects are facing, which include the provision of material services to various terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria.
Charges Filed Against Suspects
The Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has filed an 11-count charge against eight individuals involved in supporting terrorism activities. Five suspects, including Musa Kamarawa, Abubakar Hashimu (also known as “Doctor”), Bashir Abdullahi, Samuel Chinedu, and Lucky Chukwuma, were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges filed against them allege that they provided various forms of material support to terrorist groups, including supplying illicit drugs such as penta injections and cannabis, food items, military uniforms, and construction materials to terrorist camps in the forests of Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna States. The suspects also allegedly provided medical care to Bello Turji and his group following a terrorist attack in 2018, further linking them to acts of terrorism.
Ongoing Security Efforts and Pending Trial
Three of the eight defendants remain at large, including Bello Turji, Aminu Muhammad, and Sani Lawal. Efforts by Nigerian security agencies to apprehend these fugitives are ongoing. The court proceedings have been temporarily adjourned to allow the accused to secure legal representation, as no lawyer appeared for them during the initial arraignment.
The trial is now scheduled to resume on February 10, 2025. These developments are part of the Nigerian government’s broader efforts to clamp down on terrorism and dismantle the networks supporting infamous bandits like Bello Turji, with a focus on disrupting the logistics and funding of terrorism in the country.
Leave a Reply