FACT CHECK: How Bello Turji Ambushed DSS Personnel And HYBRID Forces In Fakai Village, Zamfara

By Zagazola Makama

In the aftermath of the deadly ambush on a covert counter-banditry mission in Chida village, Fakai ward of Shinkafi Local Government Area, Zamfara State, confusion has continued to trail the actual events, with conflicting casualty figures and contested operational details dominating the narrative.

While initial media reports put the death toll at 24, some subsequently raised the figure to 40, and others speculated fatalities as high as 100. However, a fact-check by Zagazola Makama reveals a different picture—one grounded in credible intelligence and firsthand operational accounts.

On June 23, 2025, a high-risk covert assault was launched in Chida village, a notorious enclave under the control of wanted terror kingpin Bello Turji. The mission involved operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and a special tactical unit of the HYBRID Forces, a composite formation of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members and local security collaborators.

Over 314 operatives were mobilised for the mission, with a clear mandate: the neutralisation of Turji and his lieutenants, who have long terrorised communities across the North West.

Initial contact with the enemy was successful—25 bandits were reportedly neutralised, and several hideouts destroyed. However, the mission took a fatal turn when surviving militants alerted Turji’s camp about the incursion. Turji, according to sources, mobilised over 100 heavily armed fighters who mounted a swift and devastating counterattack.

The DSS-led forces—operating with limited aerial surveillance and unfamiliar with the local terrain—were caught in a well-planned ambush. The bandits surrounded the operatives and unleashed heavy firepower in a coordinated onslaught.

In the ensuing chaos, 10 HYBRID Force members, along with Bashir Maniya, a former militant leader from Sokoto, and two of his lieutenants, were killed. An additional 28 operatives reportedly fled into the surrounding bush, while 23 others, including DSS personnel and civilians, sustained varying degrees of injuries. At least 48 individuals remained unaccounted for as of the time of reporting.

Two DSS operational vehicles were destroyed, and weapons were reportedly seized by Turji’s fighters.

Contrary to speculative reports, official intelligence sources confirmed that only 13 operatives were killed in the ambush—10 HYBRID members and 3 private collaborators. Of the 314 deployed, 238 operatives returned uninjured. Bello Turji later released a propaganda video showing at least 9 casualties at the scene, further corroborating the official toll. Some of the wounded later succumbed to injuries, but the number did not approach the inflated figures circulated online.

The absence of GSM coverage in the Shinkafi axis critically hampered communication during and after the ambush. With no functioning satellite or radio relay, emergency reinforcements from nearby formations could not be coordinated in time. Additionally, poor road access and thick vegetation—compounded by heavy rainfall—further delayed the arrival of support troops from Operation FANSAR YANMA.

Security experts interviewed by Zagazola Makama lamented the lack of real-time intelligence coordination, multi-agency collaboration, and air support. The DSS reportedly launched the mission with minimal involvement from the Nigerian Army or Air Force, despite the high-risk nature of the target.

While the mission aimed to dismantle one of the region’s most dangerous terror networks, poor coordination, lack of communication infrastructure, and underestimation of the enemy’s response capacity led to a tragic outcome.

This fact-check establishes that 13 personnel were confirmed dead, not the inflated figures initially reported. It also highlights the urgent need for integrated operations, reliable communication systems, and adequate support for operatives confronting hardened terror cells in remote terrains.