Nigerians have expressed displeasure over alleged ‘shielding’ of Bello Turji Kachalla, a notorious and infamous bandit leader responsible for a slew of devastating attacks across Northern Nigeria.
Kachalla is said to be bragging about his invincibility in the face of some helpless security agents who are not allowed to do their professional duty.
Some soldiers publicly expressed frustration over the lack of directives from higher authorities to pursue the notorious terrorist, and instead, issued a bold invitation to Turji Kachalla, urging him to emerge from his hiding place and confront them, Sahara Reporters reported.
A video message has emerged, featuring three Nigerian soldiers who have openly thrown down the gauntlet to Bello Turji Kachalla, a notorious and infamous bandit leader responsible for a slew of devastating attacks across northern Nigeria.
Recall that over the weekend, videos had emerged of Turji and his gangs taking over some MRAPs while burning down another.
In the footage, the bandits had boasted of taking over the Army vehicles as part of Jihad.
However, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Monday reacted to videos of bandit leader, Bello Turji and his gangs seizing two Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, MRAPs, during an operation.
The Director of Defence Media Operations Maj-Gen Edward Buba, said the two MRAPs were demobilized due to the inability of troops to use them after they got stuck in swampy terrain during operations against bandits in Zamfara State.
Back to the story, soldiers publicly expressed frustration over the lack of directives from higher authorities to pursue the notorious terrorist, and instead, issued a bold invitation to Turji Kachalla, urging him to emerge from his hiding place and confront them.
The soldiers declared, “Since they have refused to give us an order to come to where you are, come out from your hideout and let us face each other and see what will happen.”
They urged Turji to prove his courage, stating, “You, Bello Turji, if you know you are man enough and believe you are truly the son of your mother, come out and let’s face each other.”
The soldiers condemned Turji’s actions, asserting, “Please for Allah’s sake, stop kidnapping and killing civilians; they are innocent.”
Emphasising their resolve, the soldiers recalled their past successes, saying, “Before now, we didn’t know what a soldier or a gun was and we eliminated Boko Haram in Maiduguri, Borno State let alone now that we are soldiers and know what a gun is. In fact, Bello Turji, you are mad.
They challenged Turji to face them directly, asserting, “You have a gun and we (soldiers) have guns too, come out from your hideout and let us face each other.”
You are not man enough if you are kidnapping and killing innocent civilians, leave them and come out and face us (soldiers).
“You have a gun and we (soldiers) have guns too, come out from your hideout and face each other,” they said.
Reactions by Nigerians
Eddie brendan, the mediaguy, in his X handle, wrote “The soldiers publicly expressed frustration over the lack of directives from higher authorities to pursue the notorious terrorist”
In his handle, @eddiebrendan queried ‘‘Who are these higher authorities protecting these people? It makes terrorism look like a cover for something bigger, happening in the north.’’
Victor Segun Olomola, in his X handle, stated ‘‘They can not give order because of terrorism ends now, their source of making illegal money will blocked. They are concerned about the safety of this soldiers and Nigerians at large.
@segun_olomola noted ‘‘They are largely concerned about trillions of naira budget they are getting yearly.’’
Tonia wrote ‘‘Govt gives bandits cover but when innocent civilians protest they swing into action.
@Princemoye1 wrote ‘‘May posterity judge all men.’’
Precious in her X handle observed ‘‘They refused to give order ? No wonder they are bold because they are the government. When it comes to innocent journalist they will give order.
@Pastorvall1 wrote ‘‘Lol terrorists country. You want to serve zoo with all your strength, bunch of slaves protecting criminals and terrorists leaders running colonial system in black, Nigeria is not a country, know this before you die for nothing.
Prophessor wrote ‘‘What’s happening in the North is similar to what’s happening in the Middle-east between 1s-rael and Palest-ine.
@theProphessor_X posited ‘‘The 1nvaders(with Usman), the conqu-ered, looking to re-conq-uer and the retal1ation of the invad-ers, hence other vices came on board through that means. I won’t say more than this.’’
Meanwhile, Nigerian music superstar, Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy has described the country as “collateral damage” in a candid reflection on the nation’s current state.
Speaking in an interview with Tidal on Friday, the African Giant shared why the country’s cultural diversity has become a bane against its growth.
The Grammy-winning artist also expressed his concern over the socio-political challenges facing Nigeria, emphasising that the nation and its citizens often suffer the consequences of poor governance and external influences.
Burna Boy’s remarks highlight his continued outspokenness on issues affecting Nigeria, as “he urged for more accountability and better leadership to prevent the country from being treated as expendable in global and local affairs.”
His comments have sparked discussions across social media, with many echoing his sentiments about the need for change.
Burna Boy shared his thoughts about how Nigeria as a country came to be during the interview with Tidal.
He noted that Nigeria as a country was never meant to exist and it is “nothing but the result of a bad business enterprise entered into by the British”, nothing “but the collateral damage of a business deal gone south.”
He noted that “the area called Nigeria was first known as the Niger Area before the Royal Niger Company acquired it.
“After it was acquired, the Royal Niger Company decided to amalgamate the North and South as against running them as separate entities, and it was at this point that the country Nigeria was birthed.
The Afro-fusion star noted that “when the amalgamation was going to happen, the Niger Company and the British who sold Nigeria didn’t take into consideration those living in the region.
“The two entities that sold and bought the Niger Area, the people living there were nothing but collateral damage.”
