How Tinubu’s Minister Empowered Bandits Operating from Cities – Terrorist Kingpin

Terrorist kingpin Bello Turji has implicated the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, in empowering terrorists during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023. Turji claims that Matawalle’s amnesty scheme, designed to encourage bandits to surrender their arms in exchange for financial rewards and protection, backfired by enabling terrorists to relocate to urban areas while continuing their criminal activities.

Turji, who has accumulated wealth through illegal taxation and ransom from kidnappings, made these allegations in a video released on July 18. Standing with an unidentified accomplice and armed, Turji detailed how the supposed peace deal allowed terrorists to evade disarmament and strengthen their operations.

“The former governor’s policy escalated insecurity in Zamfara and other North-western states,” Turji asserted. He recounted how he eliminated a bandit leader in Shinkafi Local Government Area for peace, only for Matawalle to allegedly undermine his efforts by supporting other bandit groups.

Turji accused Matawalle of hosting and protecting armed groups without ensuring they surrendered their weapons. He cited specific examples, including a group led by Bashari Maniya, which allegedly retained over 300 guns, and another group, whose leader, Dudu, was killed by Turji. “The government failed to ask these groups to surrender their weapons,” Turji claimed.

Turji further alleged that many bandit leaders involved in the peace truce moved to Sokoto metropolis, continuing to orchestrate kidnappings and other crimes while enjoying city life. He named several individuals, including Bashari Maniya, Kabiru, and Buhari, as key figures in the ongoing criminal activities.

“Three weeks ago, a younger brother of Buhari was apprehended with guns in Sokoto metropolis,” Turji said. He challenged the government to explain the whereabouts of the machine guns these individuals purportedly surrendered. “Let the government explain who is responsible for the killings and kidnappings if not these men,” he demanded.

Efforts to obtain a response from Minister Matawalle were unsuccessful, as his spokesperson’s phone remained unreachable.

Who is Bello Turji?

Bello Turji, known for his brutal operations in the North-west and North-central Niger State, gained notoriety after a deadly ambush in December 2021, where at least 20 travellers were burned alive in Sokoto State. Following this incident, Turji penned an open letter to then-President Muhammadu Buhari, proposing a ceasefire under specific conditions, which included the dissolution of unofficial vigilante groups and engagement with traditional rulers and religious leaders.

Despite being one of the 97 terrorists declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters, Turji continues to elude capture, surviving multiple bombing attempts by the Nigerian military.

Conclusion

The allegations by Bello Turji against Bello Matawalle, if true, highlight a significant failure in the approach to dealing with banditry in Nigeria. The implications of these claims call for a thorough investigation to address the purported missteps and restore security in the affected regions.