Reports circulating on social media claiming that notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji was killed in a United States airstrike have been debunked as false, according to findings by Zagazola Makama’s fact-checking platform.
In a verified report, Zagazola Fact Check confirmed that Turji is very much alive and has merely relocated from his previous hideout.
“The reports are entirely unfounded. Bello Turji was not killed in any airstrike. He is alive and has relocated to Dubagale, close to the Niger border,” Zagazola Makama stated.
According to the fact-check, Turji is currently taking refuge at Dubagale, north of Dan Adama village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, approximately 25 kilometres from the border with the Niger Republic.
The platform noted that the viral reports were likely driven by misinformation and recycled narratives linked to recent intensified counter-banditry operations across parts of north-western Nigeria, which may have fueled speculation about the fate of high-profile criminal figures.
Zagazola Makama cautioned the public against spreading unverified security claims, stressing that false reports could mislead citizens and undermine credible security intelligence.
Bello Turji remains one of the most wanted bandit leaders in the country, with operations spanning Zamfara State and neighbouring areas. He has been linked to numerous deadly attacks, mass abductions and the large-scale displacement of communities across the region.
Security sources say operations to neutralise Turji and other bandit leaders are ongoing, even as authorities continue to urge the public to rely on verified information from credible sources.
