“God is Our Sponsor, Not Matawalle or any Politician” – Bello Turji

In a recent video message, notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has asserted that his group operates solely under divine sponsorship, explicitly denying claims that he is funded by political figures, including the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

Turji’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Matawalle and his successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, who have been embroiled in a public spat regarding the alleged sponsorship of banditry in Zamfara State. The Minister has recently challenged Governor Lawal to swear on the Quran that he has no ties to the banditry plaguing the region.

In his statement, Turji distanced both governors from any involvement in banditry, suggesting their conflict is politically motivated. “Governor Dauda Lawal and Bello Matawalle labelling each other as terrorist sponsors will not help,” he stated. He further urged the people of Zamfara to recognize that their leaders prioritize personal interests over the welfare of the state’s residents.

Turji questioned the previous claims of political sponsorship, stating, “When Matawalle was the governor, who was sponsoring us? Similarly, when Abdulaziz Yari was the governor, who was sponsoring us? Nobody is sponsoring us except God.”