By Onovi Eli
Notorious bandits’ leader, Bello Turji, has confirmed that he held a series of peace meetings with the Zamfara State Government during the administration of former governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, but firmly denied claims that he collected ₦30 million or received vehicles as part of the process.
In a viral video circulating online, Turji acknowledged that discussions took place as part of efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution between Fulani groups and the state government. However, he dismissed allegations that he personally benefited financially from the engagement.
Turji’s response followed accusations by Musa Kamarawa, a former peace mediator appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara State governments to facilitate dialogue with armed groups through non-kinetic means. Kamarawa had alleged in a separate video that the former Zamfara governor held meetings with bandits, including Turji, at the Government House in Gusau and distributed money and vehicles to them.
Specifically, Kamarawa claimed that Turji received ₦30 million during the peace process.
Reacting to the allegation, Turji described the claim as false, insisting that although peace talks were held, neither he nor any Fulani leader received such payments on his behalf.
“By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even five million naira,” Turji said. “What I am doing is not for personal gain. We were never given that ₦30 million you are talking about.”
According to him, the meetings with government officials were part of an initiative aimed at reducing violence in Zamfara State, stressing that he did not personally benefit financially from the process.
Turji accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust built during the negotiations and giving what he described as false testimony.
“We agreed on peace when the Zamfara State government appointed you,” Turji said, addressing Kamarawa. “But what you are saying now is full of lies and deceit. I did not even receive three million naira.”
The bandit leader also accused former political leaders in Zamfara and Sokoto states of contributing to long-standing insecurity in the region, alleging that they armed groups known as ‘Yan Banga’ and encouraged vigilante formations that, according to him, targeted mostly Fulani communities.
He specifically mentioned former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa and former Zamfara State governor, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, calling for their arrest and investigation.
“We say openly that former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto, Bafarawa alongside Ahmed Sani Yerima, are responsible for the calamities that befell these states,” Turji claimed.
Turji sought to distance himself from 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,” he said. “There is no human being backing us.”
Although he did not address any recent negotiations with the Federal Government, Turji framed his comments as a personal defence, stating that he was speaking “before Allah alone.”
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 over terror-related activities.
Dan Zaki Media 