Nigerian Military Responds to Videos of Bandits Capturing Two Army Vehicles

The Nigerian DHQ responded on Monday to videos circulating of bandit leader Bello Turji and his gang seizing two Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs) during an operation.

Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, explained that the two MRAPs became immobile after getting stuck in swampy terrain during operations against bandits in Zamfara State, rendering them unusable by the troops.

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, Buba insisted that the troops demobilized the MRAPs while accusing the bandits of attempting to take advantage of the situation to mislead the public.

Buba said the MRAPs were demobilized to prevent the bandits from using them.

A statement by Buba reads, “On 29 Aug 24, at about 1700 hrs, troops of OP HADARIN DAJI deployed at FOB Zurmi in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, embarked on fighting patrol to dislodge terror gathering at Kwashabawa Village. Troops engaged the terrorists enroute the location.

“During the fight, while attempting to outflank the terrorist. Quantity 2 of troops MRAPs got bogged down due to the swampy terrain occasioned by the rain. While troops tried to extricate the MRAPs, the terrorist mass up knowing the challenge troops had encountered with the MRAPs.

“Subsequently, troops dismounted and demobilized the MRAPs, when efforts to backload them were futile. The said demobilization of the MRAPs by troops was to prevent it from being useful to the terrorist after abandonment.”