₦airaland Forum

Turji however denied claims that he was paid ₦30 million as part of the engagement.

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.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/12/13/notorious-bandits-leader-bello-turji-admits-meeting-zamfara-ex-governor-matawalle-others

Notorious Bandits Leader Bello Turji Admits Meeting Zamfara Ex-governor Matawall

Which junction is this again.

I see the strident call for the sack of matawalle has died down. Everyone has moved on.
Naija we hail thee.

There is no where in the entire story where he claimed he met with the minister. The headline is inaccurate and misleading.

For him to deny and give a rebuttal to the report, means he is somewhere where internet is available. Because it was just yesterday or so that the detailed expose of Matawalle's involvement with Turji got posted by Sahara reporters.

His audio message was posted on a platform and dessiminated from there. Who are the people behind that platform? They know where Turji is.

If the DSS wasn't too bothered about replacing policemen as escorts to VIPs, perhaps they'd have spared men to solve this debacle.

Omo nah politic they dey play so

Money meant for development of their region let them be using it to pay Bandits and kidnappers and Terrorist.

There is a coordinated attack on Matawalle. Why are they bringing out this now?

The fact that Matawalle even associated with the likes of Turji Bello will be good for him as defense minister.

It's easy for thief to catch other thieves as their reasoning are same

Politicians kept the lion share of the ransoms they claimed they paid terrorists.

gabbytabby:
Money meant for development of their region let them be using it to pay Bandits and kidnappers and Terrorist.

Nonsense talk to divert attention.

If the governments of Zamfara and Sokoto did wrong to Fulanis, what has that got to do with Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Enugu, Edo, Niger, Abia, Oyo, Ogun, in fact, all other states of the country. Taqiyya peeps on the beat

banku:
Politicians kept the lion share of the ransoms they claimed they paid terrorists.

You see the states where there have been regular insecurity, it's those who are close to the government, governor, working for the governor that are normally behind the insecurity like bandits. They will still be the one to talk to the governor to negotiate with the bandits

Do yours and stop wettin for others.

This everybody has moved on mentality na scam. How many people you know wey you dey say EVERYBODY

If you move on move on and keep quiet.

Don't discourage others

BeardedMeat:
I see the strident call for the sack of matawalle has died down. Everyone has moved on.
Naija we hail thee.

Observant people like us noticed that they started this after 13% derivation started to be paid to the south so that they can have resources redirected to their region and now he don hold them for throat.

Something has to give or it will all come crumbling down on their heads.

This abacadraba commando that they did in Benin Republic makes one wonder if they cannot use the same to resolve our own problem

banku:
Politicians kept the lion share of the ransoms they claimed they paid terrorists.

Allah well done oh, they always call on your name before, during and after their horrifying attacks on fellow humans. Allah you are doing well with your followers

How can a bandit be defending a minister.?
I saw the video posted by ZagaZola Makama on X,

Nlfpmod, this is serious, Tinubu should relieve this man of his job, he can compromise our men for his men.

iwaeda:
Nlfpmod, this is serious, Tinubu should relieve this man of his job, he can compromise our men for his men.

What's actually funny about your comments that you always add laughing emoji?

Do you know the psychology reasons behind laughing at something not funny?

I thought the Nigerian Army said this turji guy is dead

How Tinubu made a terrorist minister of defense still surprises me

That’s the same way Buhari made Pantami a chronic terrorist sympathizer minister of communications

Terrorists occupying sensitive positions is what gives full moral to Boko haram and other terrorists to act fully in confidence

Abacha was never wrong!

If insurgency last 24 hours, government is involved…

Nigeria insurgency has turned to business center run by politicians and top military officials

Osiris12:
I thought the Nigerian Army said this turji guy is dead

If they wanted him dead, he would have been long dead

He met with someone appointed to mediate between the government and the terrorists. He did not meet with the minister according to the report.

Bello Turji,baba awon Omo ale

I'm not saying he is lying.

I'm only saying he is a bandit, kidnapper and terrorist.

Put that in mind when you listen to him.

Sirjamo:
He met with someone appointed to mediate between the government and the terrorists. He did not meet with the minister according to the report.

Are you making excuse for a terrorist??

So even if he met with someone appointed, doesn’t that mean they know him and his whereabouts and yet nothing has been done?

Again, are you a terrorist sympathizer?

And so. Idiot come out of your hiding

Is mysterious how these terrorists and killers are so religious and call the name of Allah at almost every other sentence

Terrorist sympathizers were appointed to the ministry. Thanks for Trump pressure on Tinubu.

I keep hammering it that anyting south west supports has negative energy or bad influence. From Buhari to Tinubu.
Sometimes i keep wondering how oduduwa falls from d sky without sinking in d lagoon,
Look at d nonsense we hv this day.
Northern Nigeria were outplayed by west, west used insecurity to outplayed northern Nigeria, now north suffering it all alone

That's how God will keep exposing evil leaders and wicked people in Jesus name amen