Bello Turji: How Bafarawa, Yerima Stoked Insecurity in North-west, Other Parts of the North

•Says they’re the real architects

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

A notorious bandits’ leader in the North-west, Bello Turji, has accused two former governors, Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State and Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State of being responsible for insecurity, calling them the “architects” of the banditry that has ravaged the region for years.

In a viral video, Turji said the former governors seized the bulk of grazing reserves traditionally used by Fulani herders, and handed the land to other interests, while the Fulani were left to suffer assaults and attacks by local vigilante groups known as “Yan Banga”.

He said those policies sparked the cycle of violence that predated the era of another former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, the incumbent and Minister of State for Defence.

Turji also confirmed that he took part in a series of peace meetings with the Zamfara State government during Matawalle’s administration, but denied receiving N30 million or any vehicles as part of the outcome of the peace talks.

“By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even five million naira,” Turji said.

He insisted that the negotiations were purely aimed at reducing bloodshed, not personal enrichment.

Turji’s denial followed claims by a former peace mediator, Musa Kamarawa, who alleged that the Zamfara State government handed cash and vehicles to Turji during meetings at Government House, Gusau.

Turji described Kamarawa’s statements as “false, mischievous testimony” and accused him of betraying the trust built during the talks.

He also warned that his “enmity with Matawalle is much bigger than anything”, citing military attacks on his village that killed dozens of his relatives and the detention of his father without justice.

Despite his claims, Nigerian security agencies continued to list Turji as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders in the North west, with the military also declaring him wanted for terror related activities.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Bukkuyum Local Government Area, Zamfara State, Abubakar   Faruk, warned that Gando forest had turned into a bustling camp for armed bandits, who had relocated from neighbouring states.

Speaking to journalists, Faruk said the forest now sheltered groups from Katsina and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna, turning it into a “growing den for banditry”.

He said more than 200 residents, including women and children, had been abducted from Bukkuyum and were believed to be held inside the forest.