…says ‘I’ve never had N3m in my life’
Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has denied ever collecting N30million and vehicles from the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, during peace talks organised under his administration in the state.
Turji vowed that since he was born, he had “never possessed N5m” not to talk of a whopping N30million.
The bandit leader in a viral video circulating on social media, said his activities are not for personal gain.
Turji made the video in response to allegations by Musa Kamarawa, a former peace mediator appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara state governments to facilitate dialogue with armed groups in the North-West.
Earlier, Kamarawa had accused Turji of receiving N30m during several meetings with the former governor Matawalle, who is now Minister of State for Defence, at the Government House in Gusau. Vehicles were also reportedly distributed to the bandits.
But Turji dismissed Karamawa’s claims as false.
He said in the video, “By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even N5m.”
“What I am doing is not for personal gain. We were never given the N30m you are talking about.”
The bandit leader accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust established during negotiations and giving what he described as “false and mischievous testimony.”
Turji added, “We agreed on peace when the Zamfara State government appointed you.
“But what you are saying now is full of lies and deceit. I did not even receive N3m.”
He also distanced himself from political influence, claiming he was not acting on behalf of any politician or interest group.
“We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians. There is no human being backing us,” he said.
Turji, however, blamed former political leaders for fuelling insecurity long before Matawalle’s administration, specifically naming former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa and former Zamfara State governor Senator Ahmed Yerima, demanding their arrest and investigation.
Although he did not comment on any recent negotiations with the Federal Government, Turji framed his remarks as a personal defence, saying he was speaking “before Allah alone.”
Residents of Sokoto State have expressed concern over the renewed exchanges, warning that the controversy is being politicised ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Alhaji Sani Aliyu, a community leader in Sokoto metropolis, said the social media uproar “has little to do with justice or security. It is all about positioning for 2027. Ordinary people are the ones suffering while politicians trade accusations.”
Similarly, civil society activist Malam Abdullahi Bello cautioned that turning insecurity into a political weapon could further destabilise the North-West. “Using banditry and violence as political propaganda is dangerous,” he said. “Leaders should focus on lasting solutions instead of exploiting fear to win public support.”
Despite Turji’s claims, Nigerian security agencies have repeatedly identified him as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders in the North-West, and he remains wanted for terror-related activities as military operations continue to target bandit networks in the region.
