₦airaland Forum

iwaeda:
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

gabbytabby:
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

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

Bashirjaja01:
He said so

iwaeda:
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.
The real headline should be the most notorious terrorist in nigeria and the present minister of defence are allies and occasionally hace a tea meeting.

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

Omoawoke:
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?

Dogalmighty17:
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.

treatise:
Is this a script for nolllywood production?

Dogalmighty17:
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.

Drforsuiciders:
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

RillJ:
Fall from which sky? Abi no be ame Oduduwa wey stroll in from Benin Kingdom?

Moroccoguy:
Which junction is this again.