Troops from the 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have arrested notorious bandit leader and arms dealer, Bako Wurgi, also known as Baka NaGarba, in connection with the murder of the Emir of Gobir, Isa Mohammad Bawa, in Sokoto State.
The arrest, disclosed by counterterrorism expert Zagazola Makama, took place on Saturday following a successful operation.
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Makama shared the news on Sunday, revealing that Wurgi had been receiving treatment for injuries at a hospital in Shinkafi town, Zamfara State, after a clash with a rival group.
“Intelligence sources informed me that Wurgi was apprehended after he was discovered to have been transported to the hospital with multiple cuts and gunshot wounds,” Makama said.
During the operation, two accomplices of Wurgi managed to escape, but another individual who assisted in transporting him to the hospital in a tricycle was arrested. Wurgi’s arrest is considered a major breakthrough in the ongoing battle against banditry and terrorism in Nigeria’s Northwest region.
Wurgi is believed to have played a significant role in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the Emir of Gobir, who was abducted on July 9, 2024, in Sabon Birnin Local Government Area, Sokoto State, and killed on August 22 after ransom talks collapsed.
“Reports indicate that Wurgi played a key role in the kidnapping and killing, which involved ransom negotiations that included cash and motorcycles but ultimately failed,” Makama stated.
Wurgi is also known for his international arms trafficking connections. He is related to infamous bandit leader Bello Turji through his grandfather, and his son, Sani Duna, is believed to act as a getaway biker for Turji, further tying the two bandit leaders together.
