The Defence Headquarters has dismissed reports that terrorist leader, Bello Turji, has surrendered to the military.

Naijaonpoint reports that Turji, a wanted bandit leader operating mainly in Zamfara and Sokoto states, has been accused of masterminding several attacks on communities in the North-West.

Recently, there were reports that Turji had surrendered his arms and released 32 kidnap victims following a peace initiative brokered by Islamic clerics in Zamfara State.

However, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, during a press briefing on the activities of the Armed Forces on Thursday in Abuja, stated that they are still searching for Turji.

He said, “Simple answer to the question about terrorist leader, Bello Turji; Turji has not surrendered, we are still on the lookout for him.”

In other news, Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has vowed that those behind the violence in the state would be brought to justice.

He stated this while reacting to the recent killings in the Kauran Namoda Local Government Area, which was recently hit by a wave of bandit attacks.

The governor condemned the senseless killings and vowed that those behind the violence would be exposed and shamed by divine intervention.

The visit, which took place on Wednesday, covered five heavily affected communities: Banga, Sakajiki, Kuryar Madaro, Maguru, and Tambarawa.

These areas have witnessed a disturbing rise in attacks by bandits, leaving many residents devastated and mourning the loss of loved ones.

Governor Lawal, who had been out of the state when the most recent attack occurred, said he immediately instructed the Deputy Governor to lead a high-powered delegation to sympathise with the victims.

Upon his return to Gusau, the state capital, he visited the affected towns to assess the damage and console grieving families.