He also said the elimination of two of his top commanders, Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu on Thursday night had sent shivers down the spine of Turji.
Musa spoke at the closing ceremony of the CDS Joint Task Force Commanders Conference in Abuja on Friday.
“In a follow-up operation, troops advanced into Tufan and Mashima villages, further dislodging armed groups and pushing them deeper into the forest.
He said, “In a symbolic strike against banditry, the security forces also returned to the once-cleared area of Bello Turji. The remaining portions of his camp, previously targeted in past offensives, were obliterated in a final suit to erase his presence from the region.
“Reports indicate that both Turji and Sani Black are now desperately seeking escape routes as the pressure mounts,”.
The defence chief noted that the ongoing offensives had shown no signal of a shift in the government’s approach to tackling banditry in Zamfara and the wider Northwest.
He said the security forces had sent a strong message to all armed groups in the country that the era of impunity was over.
“For years, bandits, terrorists, and criminals have exploded the difficult terrain within our country, creating well-fortified hideouts and lodging deadly raids on communities.
“However, with the current operations gaining momentum, the tide appears to be turning as troops start their drip and air assaults continue precision strikes.
“Special forces from the land, the maritime and the air are working assiduously to ensure that we secure the entire nation,” he added.
Musa reaffirmed that the military would sustain its momentum until all terrorist factions are neutralised.
The CDS charged commanders to remain committed, dedicated, and focused in all their activities and to understand the enormity of the task ahead.
