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Military Deploys More Troops to Zamfara Over Turji’s N30m Levy Deadline

There is an increased military presence In Moriki, a community in the Shinkafi Local Government Area presently under tension following the N30m protection levy deadline issued by notorious terrorist, Bello Turji

The presence of the troops followed the two-day deadline issued to the terrorists to deliver the levy, hitherto shared between the married and youths in the community.

THE WHISTLER reported that the Turji had issued a fresh deadline to the residents, captured in a video that came to the limelight on Wednesday.

The threat emerged following a vow by the military on Tuesday to arrest Turji and bring to a halt his seeming hold on some of the states in the North West region of the country.

Residents in Moriki have confirmed the increased presence of the military alongside the Community Protection Guards (CPG) to complement the conventional security personnel.

On Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa described Turji as a deranged person after he reduced a levy he imposed on the Zamfara community from N50m to N30m for alleged killing of his cattle by the military.

Turji had given the community three days for each household to contribute N10,000 and the youths, N3000 to make up the levy.

The CDS said, “Turji is just a deranged individual who feels power, but I can bet you that it’s just a matter of time; we’re going to get him, and I can assure you that it will be within the shortest possible time.

“We’re going to address that issue on the levy payment (to bandits). That is what they live on and it shows you the desperation they are in.

“One, even when they get the money, they don’t have a way to use it. Two is that the money they’re getting, they know, is blood money.

“That is why we all must come together to work with members of the armed forces and security agencies to deny them the ability to move freely within our communities.

“Please, do not give them any support, do not give them information on the movement of troops.”

Musa noted that the reason terrorism prevails in some areas of the North is due to informants in the communities, noting the plans of the Defence headquarters to execute a holistic review of the operations in the Northwest and other regions in the North.

He further said, “The intention of the bandit is to show that they are present, it is an act of criminality. That is why we are appealing to Nigerians not to provide any support.

“You remember the last time that we had this issue, where our APC was bugged down and then some terrorists came, it was the people that called them to tell them that the troops were having issues and they came in mass.

“That is why we are appealing to the people, if you think these guys are on your side, they are a bunch of deranged people who hold no allegiance to anybody. Today you think you are with them; tomorrow they are coming after you.

“We appealed to Nigerians not to allow themselves to be cowed, we also appeal that for us to maintain security, the armed forces and security agencies cannot be everywhere — We will try as much as possible to be there, and we will build capacities in the locals too for them to be able to defend themselves before we come in.”

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