By Charles Pemu 
Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has ignited a political firestorm across the North-West, alleging that past administrations in Zamfara and Sokoto states laid the foundation for the region’s long-running insecurity. In a viral video that surfaced yesterday, Turji explicitly accused two former governors—whose names he mentioned, including former Sokoto and Zamfara state counterparts—of being responsible for the “calamities that befell these states” and called for their arrest and investigation.
The bandit kingpin claimed that former political leaders fueled the violence by allegedly arming vigilante groups, popularly known as ‘Yan Banga,’ which he insisted disproportionately targeted Fulani communities and consequently escalated the conflict. He passionately sought to distance himself from political manipulation, asserting, “We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians. There is no human being backing us.”
Turji’s explosive expose came against the backdrop of accusations made by a former peace negotiator, Musa Kamarawa, who was engaged by the state governments to facilitate non-kinetic engagement with armed groups. Kamarawa had alleged that Turji received ₦30 million for his participation in the peace process at the Government House in Gusau.
While confirming that he participated in a series of peace meetings with the Zamfara State government during the administration of a former governor, Turji vehemently denied claims of receiving any material inducement. He dismissed the allegations as outright falsehood, insisting that the negotiations were solely aimed at reducing violence and restoring peace.
“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 declared in the video, framing his remarks as a personal defence and insisting he was speaking “before Allah alone.” He further accused the mediator of betraying the trust built during the negotiations by peddling “false and malicious testimony.”
Efforts to secure immediate reactions from both former governors proved abortive, as they neither picked up calls nor returned messages. However, multiple sources close to the political figures strongly insisted that the claims of a declared terrorist should be entirely disregarded as outright lies intended to portray himself as a victim.
Security Forces Neutralise Bandit Kingpin in Sokoto
Meanwhile, security forces dealt a significant blow to criminal networks operating in the North-West, eliminating another notorious bandit, Kachalla Na’Allah, in a decisive operation in the Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Security sources confirmed that Na’Allah, identified as a cousin of the infamous bandit leader, Ibrahim Chimmo, was shot dead on Friday during an interception between Girnashe and Kuka Tara villages. The successful operation, executed by a joint team of Mobile Police, community guards, and the Nigerian Army, marks a major step in dismantling the operational command of bandit groups in the state.
Sokoto State’s Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Colonel Ahmad Usman (retd), commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for the sustained successes recorded in the ongoing fight against banditry in the state.