Bandit kingpin, Turji, opens up on Zamfara peace meetings,  rejects claim of N30m inducement

Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has acknowledged participating in peace meetings with the Zamfara State Government during the administration of former governor Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, while firmly denying allegations that he was paid ₦30 million or given vehicles during the talks.

Turji made the statement in a video that went viral on social media on Saturday. He was reacting to claims by a former peace mediator, Musa Kamarawa, who was appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara state governments to coordinate non-kinetic engagement with armed groups in the North-West.

Kamarawa had alleged that several meetings were held between Matawalle’s government and bandit leaders, including Turji, at the Government House in Gusau, during which money and vehicles were allegedly shared. He specifically claimed that Turji received ₦30 million as part of the peace arrangement.

Dismissing the allegation, Turji said the claim was untrue, insisting that no money or vehicles were given to him or any Fulani leader during the process.

“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 ₦30 million you are talking about,” Turji said in the video.

He explained that the meetings were intended to promote peace and reduce violence in Zamfara State.

Turji also accused Kamarawa of violating the trust built during the peace talks and giving what he described as “false and mischievous testimony.”

“We agreed on peace when the Zamfara State Government appointed you. But what you are saying now is full of lies and deceit. I did not even receive three million naira,” he said.

The bandit leader further alleged that insecurity in Zamfara and Sokoto states had been fuelled by actions taken before Matawalle’s tenure, accusing some former political leaders of sponsoring armed groups such as ‘Yan Banga’ and encouraging vigilante activities that targeted Fulani communities.

He maintained that he was not influenced by any political figure, stressing that he did not operate on behalf of politicians or interest groups.

“We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians. There is no human being backing us,” Turji added.

Although he did not address whether there were any recent discussions with the Federal Government, Turji said his comments were a personal defence, noting that he was speaking “before Allah alone.”