A notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has directly accused two former northern governors of significantly contributing to the escalating insecurity plaguing Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions. Turji, a figure repeatedly identified by security agencies as a dangerous armed group leader, released his allegations in a viral video that surfaced recently. He claims past administrations armed vigilante groups, which he alleges disproportionately targeted Fulani communities, thereby intensifying the cycle of violence.

Turji specifically named a former governor of Sokoto State and his counterpart from Zamfara State, demanding their arrest and investigation for their alleged roles in the crisis. He stated, “We openly say that former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto states are responsible for the calamities that befell these states.” The bandit leader sought to distance himself and his group from political affiliations, asserting, “We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians. There is no human being backing us.”

In the same video, Turji vehemently denied accusations made by a former peace negotiator, Musa Kamarawa, who had claimed Turji received N30 million and other material inducements to participate in peace talks. Turji dismissed these claims as outright falsehoods, insisting that while peace meetings did occur, neither he nor any Fulani leader acting on his behalf received any money or vehicles. “By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even five million naira. What I am doing is not for personal gain,” he stated.

Sources close to the accused former governors have dismissed Turji’s claims, questioning the credibility of a terrorist’s testimony. “Why would anyone want to place a premium on the words of a terrorist? Is it not clear that the terrorist is just trying to present himself as a victim? It is all lies,” one anonymous source commented. Another individual with ties to one of the governors stated unequivocally, “I can confirm to you that Turji is telling lies. Somebody who has serially killed is the one you want to believe.”

Despite Turji’s attempt to frame his remarks as a personal defense made “before Allah alone,” Nigerian security agencies have consistently linked him to severe terror-related activities in the North-West. His allegations emerge against a backdrop of ongoing efforts to combat banditry and insurgency in the region, with recent military operations yielding significant results in neutralizing other key criminal figures.

In a separate development, security forces have successfully eliminated another notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Na’Allah, in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. This operation, conducted by a joint team of police and community guards with army support, marks a significant blow to criminal networks operating in the area. Na’Allah was identified as a cousin to another prominent bandit leader, Ibrahim Chimmo, and his death follows closely on the heels of the neutralization of bandit kingpin Kachalla Kallamu by army troops.

The Sokoto State government has praised the security agencies for their sustained successes in the fight against banditry. Colonel Ahmad Usman, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, commended the Nigerian Army and other forces for their crucial role in dismantling criminal operations and restoring peace to the affected communities. These operations underscore the government’s commitment to tackling the persistent security challenges in the region.

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Keywords: Bello Turji, northern Nigeria insecurity, former governors accused, bandit leader allegations, Zamfara security, Sokoto security, Kachalla Na'Allah killed, banditry fight