Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader in Zamfara State, has reportedly handed over arms and released dozens of kidnapped victims following peace dialogues initiated by Islamic clerics.
The effort, led by Sheikh Musa Yusuf Assadus Sunnah and a group of Islamic scholars, took place deep within the Fakai forest in Shinkafi Local Government Area. The clerics, acting on the request of residents, engaged Turji and his associates in a series of three meetings held in July.
“It was not an easy trip, we had to cross a river without a canoe, and travelled a long distance deep inside the forest on bikes before we reached Turji’s enclave,” Sheikh Yusuf said during a sermon delivered at a mosque in Kaduna.
He revealed that the initiative was part of a grassroots-driven peace process aimed at restoring calm to communities long devastated by bandit attacks.
“We met Bello Turji, Dan Bakkolo, Black and Kanawa, and Malam Ila. Contrary to speculations, Dan Bakkolo is alive and was present during the meetings,” he added.
As part of the peace gestures, the bandits reportedly released 32 kidnapped victims, mostly women and children. Some of the victims had spent more than four months in captivity.
“In three phases, they surrendered some arms to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process. They also agreed to allow farmers from Shinkafi access to their farmlands across the river leading to Turji’s enclave,” Sheikh Yusuf said.
He also disclosed that the informal peace accord includes an agreement that Fulani residents be allowed to return to town without fear of profiling or harm by local vigilantes.
Since the engagement, Shinkafi and surrounding areas have experienced relative calm. Residents have resumed farming activities in previously unsafe areas, and there have been no fresh reports of abductions or killings in the axis.
While hailing the progress made, Sheikh Yusuf advised caution in pushing for complete disarmament of Turji’s group at this stage.
“We are engaging Turji gradually towards total peace. It would be unwise to ask him to surrender all his weapons now, as that could expose him to other armed groups who may not be part of the peace talks,” he warned.
He further urged fellow Islamic preachers to avoid making inflammatory public statements against Turji, saying that such actions could undermine the fragile peace. During his sermon, he also showed videos of the difficult terrain navigated by the clerics and the released hostages.
Sheikh Yusuf commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, and Senator Shehu Buba for supporting non-kinetic approaches to security challenges in the region.
Reacting to the development, Dr Suleiman Shuaibu, an indigene of Shinkafi, confirmed the release of the captives.
“It is true. Turji has released about 32 hostages and has shown willingness to surrender his arms. The people of Shinkafi are happy because the government has not done enough. There is jubilation everywhere in the town,” he said.
Although the government has yet to issue an official statement, a source familiar with the matter suggested the development may be part of discreet peace efforts between communities and armed factions operating in the North-West.
Bello Turji, long considered one of the most dangerous and influential bandit commanders in the North-West, has been linked to mass abductions, extortion, and killings across Zamfara, Sokoto, and parts of Katsina.
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