Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has denied claims that he received money or vehicles from the Zamfara State Government during past peace negotiations, insisting that he has never owned as much as ₦5 million in his life.
In a video circulating widely on social media, Turji rejected allegations made by Musa Kamarawa, a former peace mediator appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara state governments to engage armed groups in the North-West. Kamarawa had claimed that Turji was paid ₦30 million during several meetings with the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, and that vehicles were also shared among bandit leaders.
Responding to the claims, Turji described the allegations as false and misleading, saying his actions were not motivated by personal enrichment. He insisted that no such payments were made to him at any point during the negotiations.
“By Allah, since the day I was born, I have never possessed even ₦5 million,” he said. “What I am doing is not for money. We were never given the ₦30 million being mentioned, not even ₦3 million.”
Turji accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust that existed during the peace process, claiming the mediator’s statements were untrue and intended to mislead the public. He said the agreement reached at the time was based on dialogue, not financial inducement.
The bandit leader also sought to distance himself from political actors, insisting that neither politicians nor interest groups were backing his activities. According to him, insecurity in the region predates the Matawalle administration, and he blamed earlier political leaders for worsening the crisis. He specifically mentioned former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa and former Zamfara State governor Ahmed Sani Yerima, calling for investigations into their roles.
Although Turji did not address any ongoing or recent discussions with the Federal Government, he said his remarks were meant to clear his name, adding that he was speaking “before Allah alone.”
Meanwhile, reactions from residents and civil society groups suggest growing concern that the controversy is being politicised ahead of the 2027 general elections. A community leader in Sokoto, Alhaji Sani Aliyu, said the public exchanges appeared more political than security-focused, warning that ordinary citizens continued to bear the brunt of the violence.
Similarly, civil society activist Malam Abdullahi Bello cautioned against exploiting insecurity for political advantage, describing such actions as dangerous and destabilising for the North-West.
Despite Turji’s denials, Nigerian security agencies continue to list him as one of the most wanted and dangerous bandit leaders operating in the region, as military operations against armed groups remain ongoing.
