Hamza Samaila Surudubu, a suspected gunrunner, has been arrested for allegedly supplying weapons to terrorists, including notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji, operating in North-West Nigeria. The arrest was confirmed in a statement by Col Ahmed Usman (retd), the Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on security matters, on Friday.
According to the statement, the 35-year-old Surudubu was apprehended on February 20, 2025, by the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps (SSCGC) in Isa Division, with support from the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), along Shinkafi Road. Preliminary investigations suggest that Surudubu was enroute to deliver arms and ammunition to Turji, Boka, and Halilu Buzu, prominent figures in the banditry network.
Following his arrest, the case has been handed over to appropriate security agencies for further investigation.
In a related development, Aminu Almustapha Boza, a lawmaker from Sokoto, confirmed that bandit kingpin Bello Turji is active in the forests of Isa Local Government Area. Boza, who represents Sabon Birni, disclosed that Turji has been collecting taxes from the local population, imposing a N25 million levy on villages in the area.
“Bello Turji is currently in the Isa and Sabon Birni axis of Sokoto. He has even imposed a ₦25 million levy per village in some communities,” Boza said.
The lawmaker has called on local authorities and security agencies to intensify efforts in combating the rising banditry in the region.
