Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has named two former Northern governors as being responsible for fueling insecurity in Northern Nigeria.
Turji also confirmed that he participated in a series of peace meetings with the Zamfara State Government during the administration of a former governor of the state. However, he denied claims that he received N30 million or any material inducement to take part in the process.
Efforts to obtain reactions from the affected former governors were unsuccessful, according to media reports, as they neither picked nor returned calls. However, sources close to the former governors dismissed Turji’s claims, insisting that the words of a terrorist should not be believed.
One of the sources queried, “Why would anyone want to place a premium on the words of a terrorist? Is it not clear that he is only trying to present himself as a victim? It is all lies.”
Another source close to one of the former governors said, “I can confirm to you that Turji is telling lies. Somebody who has serially killed is the one you want to believe? Everything he said is false.”
The Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation also declined to comment on the development.
In a viral video that surfaced on Sunday, Turji accused past political leadership in Zamfara and Sokoto states of laying the foundation for the region’s prolonged insecurity. He alleged that former administrations armed vigilante groups, popularly known as Yan Banga, which he claimed disproportionately targeted Fulani communities and escalated violence.
The bandit leader specifically called for the arrest and investigation of a former Sokoto State governor and his former Zamfara State counterpart over what he described as their roles in the crisis.
“We openly say that former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto states are responsible for the calamities that befell these states,” Turji claimed.
He sought to distance himself from any political influence, insisting that he was not acting on behalf of any politician or interest group.
“We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians. There is no human being backing us,” he said.
Although Turji did not address reports of any recent negotiations with the Federal Government, he framed his remarks as a personal defence, insisting that he was speaking “before Allah alone.”
Despite his claims, Nigerian security agencies have repeatedly identified Bello Turji as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders operating in the North-West, with the military previously declaring him wanted for terror-related activities.
Turji’s allegations came against the backdrop of accusations by a former peace negotiator, Musa Kamarawa, who was engaged by both state governments to negotiate with bandit leaders as part of non-kinetic efforts to address insecurity.
Kamarawa had accused Turji of collecting N30 million for his participation in peace talks held at the Government House in Gusau. However, Turji, in his video response, dismissed the allegation as false, insisting that although peace talks took place, neither he nor any Fulani leader acting on his behalf received money or vehicles.
“By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even five million naira. What I am doing is not for personal gain. We were never given the N30 million you are talking about,” he said.
According to Turji, the meetings with government officials were solely aimed at reducing violence and restoring peace in the affected states. He accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust built during the negotiations and peddling what he described as false and malicious claims.
“When the Zamfara State government appointed you, we agreed on peace. But what you are saying now is full of lies and deceit. I did not even receive three million naira,” Turji said.
Meanwhile, a combined team of security operatives has eliminated another notorious bandit, Kachalla Na’Allah, in a decisive operation in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, dealing a further blow to criminal networks terrorising the region.
A reliable security source confirmed that Na’Allah was shot dead on Friday during an interception between Girnashe and Kuka Tara villages in Tsabre Ward of the local government area.
