Bello Turji Admits Peace Meeting With Zamfara Government Under Matawalle, Denies ₦30 Million Payment and Calls for Arrest of Former Leaders

Notorious bandits leader Bello Turji has admitted that he met with officials of the Zamfara State government during the administration of Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, but denied claims that he was paid ₦30 million as part of the engagement.

Turji made the disclosure in an audio message that has been widely circulated online, responding to allegations by Musa Kamara, a former peace mediator appointed by the Zamfara State government. Kamara had claimed that Turji received ₦30 million during peace negotiations with the state government, an allegation the bandit leader described as false.

In the recording, Turji swore that he had never possessed such an amount of money and insisted that the peace talks were not for personal gain. He said the meeting with government officials was aimed at ending violence and restoring peace, not financial benefit.

According to him, Kamara betrayed the trust established during the negotiations by making what he called false claims. Turji maintained that he did not receive ₦3 million, let alone ₦30 million, from the Zamfara State government or any individual during the talks.

The bandits leader went further to accuse former political leaders in Zamfara and Sokoto states of contributing to the insecurity in the region. He alleged that they sponsored armed groups and encouraged the formation of vigilante outfits that targeted Fulani communities, a situation he claimed worsened violence across the states.

Turji openly called for the arrest and investigation of the former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto states, as well as Ahmed Sani Yerima, blaming them for what he described as the calamities that befell the affected areas.

In his message, Turji denied acting on behalf of any political interest, insisting that neither politicians nor any individual was backing his activities. He portrayed his actions as a response to insecurity and perceived injustice, stating that he was speaking in defence of himself before God.

Despite his claims, Turji did not address specific allegations linking his group to mass killings, kidnappings, and widespread displacement in Zamfara and neighbouring states. Nigerian security agencies have repeatedly identified him as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders operating in the North-West, and the military has previously declared him wanted over terror-related activities.