Naija Blog — The Defence Headquarters has dismissed reports claiming that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has surrendered to the Nigerian military.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, made the clarification on Thursday in Abuja during a briefing on the Armed Forces’ recent operations.

Turji, who operates primarily in Zamfara and Sokoto states, is accused of orchestrating multiple deadly attacks on communities across the North-West.

Recent media reports alleged that the wanted bandit leader had laid down his arms and freed 32 kidnap victims under a peace initiative facilitated by Islamic clerics in Zamfara State.

The military, however, maintains that no such surrender has taken place.