Bandit Leader Bello Turji Confirms Peace Talks With Matawalle, Calls for His Arrest
Notorious bandit commander Bello Turji has confirmed that he previously participated in peace talks with officials of the Zamfara State government during the tenure of former governor Bello Matawalle, who now serves as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, PulseNets learnt.
The disclosure has reignited public debate over the controversial negotiations between state authorities and armed groups that plagued the North-West at the height of the region’s insecurity.
Turji made the confirmation while responding to allegations that he was paid ₦30 million as part of the peace engagement. He categorically rejected the claim, describing it as false, misleading, and deliberately fabricated.
According to the bandit leader, no money was paid to him at any stage of the discussions, contrary to reports circulating in the public space.
In an audio message obtained by PulseNets and currently making the rounds online, Turji accused Musa Kamara, a former peace mediator appointed by the Zamfara State government, of peddling what he called outright falsehoods.
He dismissed the allegation of a ₦30 million payoff as “a lie,” insisting that he has never controlled such an amount in his entire life.
“By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even five million naira,” Turji said in the recording. “What I am doing is not for personal gain. We were never given that ₦30 million you are talking about.”
Turji explained that the engagement with government officials was part of a broader peace initiative aimed at reducing violence and restoring calm across Zamfara State.
He maintained that the talks were never intended for financial reward and accused Kamara of betraying the trust that was built during the negotiations.
“We agreed on peace when the Zamfara State government appointed you,” Turji stated. “But what you are saying now is full of lies. I did not even receive three million naira.”
Beyond the denial, Turji went on to accuse former political leaders in Zamfara and Sokoto states of playing key roles in the prolonged insecurity in the region.
He alleged that some former governors armed various groups and promoted the formation of vigilante outfits which, according to him, carried out attacks against 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.
He called for their arrest and demanded a comprehensive investigation into their alleged involvement in fueling the crisis.
In the same message, Turji sought to distance himself from partisan politics, insisting that he neither enjoys political sponsorship nor protection from any influential figure. He said his actions were driven by what he described as injustice and insecurity affecting his people.
“We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians,” he said. “There is no human being backing us.”
Despite these assertions, Turji did not respond to longstanding accusations linking him to mass killings, kidnappings, and the displacement of communities across Zamfara and neighbouring states.
Also Read: Bello Turji Frees Over 100 Hostages in Renewed Peace Effort Across Zamfara State
Instead, he framed his remarks as a personal defence, noting that he was speaking, in his words, “before Allah alone.”
Security agencies, however, have consistently identified Bello Turji as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders operating in Nigeria’s North-West. The military had previously declared him wanted over terror-related activities, with sustained operations ongoing to dismantle his network and restore security to affected communities.
