Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has stunned the nation by admitting that he held peace talks with officials of the Zamfara State government under former governor Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence.
But the feared kingpin vehemently denied claims that he was paid ₦30 million during the engagement, describing the allegation as a blatant lie.
SaharaReporters reports that in am audio message circulating online, Turji accused Musa Kamara, a former Zamfara government-appointed peace mediator, of spreading falsehoods.
“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 that ₦30 million you are talking about,” Turji said.
He confirmed that the meeting with government officials was part of a peace initiative but insisted he gained nothing financially, accusing Kamara of betrayal.
“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.”
Turji went further, accusing former political leaders in Zamfara and Sokoto states of fuelling violence in the region, alleging they armed groups and encouraged vigilantes who 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.
Rejecting any political backing, the bandit leader sought to portray his actions as driven by insecurity and injustice rather than political interests.
“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 widespread displacement across Zamfara and neighbouring states, avoided addressing specific attacks blamed on his group, saying he was speaking “before Allah alone.”
Despite his claims, Nigerian security agencies continue to identify Bello Turji as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders in the North-West, with the military previously declaring him wanted over terror-related activities.
