Bandit Turji leader expresses the will to surrender

According to reports, the notorious Kingpin of Zamfara Bandit, Bello Turji, expressed promptness to surrender and support peace efforts in the North-West, although the military insisted that no formal agreement was achieved.

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The defense headquarters rejects the news of Turji surrender

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The anti -terrorism expert Zagazola Makama revealed that Turji, 29 years old, wants to be part of a “lasting solution” to the cycle of murders and reprisals that have afflicted Zamfara and close states for over a decade.

The cleric Sheikh Musa Yusuf (Asadus-Sunnah) told the faithful to Kaduna that Turji had already freed 32 hostages, including women and children, and delivered weapons after three rounds of dialogues in July in the Fakai forest, in the area of the local government of Shinkafi.

According to reports, the leader of the bandit also allowed the displaced people to return to their agricultural land and undertaken to protect the communities of Fulani from the attacks of vigilantes.

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Notorious Bandit Kingpin, Bello Turji suits peace after the death of Top Commander

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However, Yusuf admitted that Turji had not completely disarmed, citing the threat of rival gangs.

He warned critics against “attacks on social media” that could make the fragile truce derail.

The defense headquarters, however, denied Turji’s surrender.

The major general Markus Kangye, director of defense media operations, underlined on Thursday that “no agreement was concluded with the terrorist commander”, although the military are aware of local peace efforts.

Turji, linked to some of the most fatal massacres in Zamfara, had warned in October 2024 that peace would remain elusive unless the security forces and the vigilantes did not stop targeting the communities of Fulani, accusing politicians of politicizing insecurity.

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