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Notorious bandits leader, Bello Turji, has confirmed that he held peace talks with officials of the Zamfara State government during the previous administration led by Bello Matawalle who is now the Minister of State for defence.
Turji however denied claims that he was paid ₦30 million as part of the engagement.
In an audio message circulated online, Turji rejected allegations made by Musa Kamara, a former peace mediator appointed by the Zamfara State government, describing the claim of a ₦30 million payoff as “a lie.”
“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.”
Turji said the meeting with state officials was part of a peace initiative and insisted that he did not personally benefit financially from the process. He accused Kamara of giving “false testimony” and betraying the trust established during the negotiations.
“We agreed on peace when the Zamfara State government appointed you,” Turji said. “But what you are saying now is full of lies. I did not even receive three million naira.”
The bandit leader also accused former political leaders in Zamfara and Sokoto states of fuelling violence in the region, alleging that they armed groups and encouraged the formation of vigilantes that targeted Fulani communities.
“We say openly that former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto, alongside Ahmed Sani Yerima, are responsible for the calamities that befell these states,” Turji claimed, calling for their arrest and investigation.
In the message, Turji sought to portray his actions as a response to insecurity and alleged injustice, insisting that he was not acting on behalf of any political interest.
“We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians,” he said. “There is no human being backing us.”
Turji, who has been linked to mass killings, kidnappings, and large-scale displacement across Zamfara and neighbouring states, did not address specific accusations of attacks attributed to his group.
Instead, he framed his comments as a personal defence, saying he was answering “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.
