The Defence Headquarters has denied reports that bandit leader Bello Turji has surrendered to the military.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a briefing on the activities of the Armed Forces.

“Simple answer to the question about terrorist leader, Bello Turji; Turji has not surrendered, we are still on the lookout for him,” he said.

Turji, a wanted bandit leader operating mainly in Zamfara and Sokoto states, has been accused of masterminding several attacks on communities in the North-West.

Recently, there were reports that the bandit leader had surrendered his arms and released 32 kidnap victims following a peace initiative brokered by Islamic clerics in Zamfara State.

In a related development, Governor Muhammad Umaru Bago of Niger State announced the arrest of Abubakar Abba, the leader of the dreaded Mahmuda terrorist organisation.

Until his arrest, Abba headed the notorious group that had been operating in the Borgu Local Council of Niger State and parts of Kwara State.

Bago disclosed that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) captured the terrorist kingpin in Wawa town.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the Governor’s spokesperson, Bologi Ibrahim, confirmed that the suspect was apprehended without a single shot being fired.

“Yes, it is true. I can confirm that the leader of Mahmuda, one of the most dangerous terror groups in West Africa, Abubakar Abba, has been arrested by the DSS,” Ibrahim quoted the governor as saying.

He explained that the arrest was the result of an intelligence-led operation.