Terrorist implicates Nigerian Minister in banditry

A terrorism kingpin, Bello Turji, has alleged former Governor of Zamfara State and now Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, as responsible for empowering terrorists while serving as Governor, stressing that his (Matawalle) policy was the reason insecurity escalated in the state and other North-Western States.

Penpushing reports that Turji in a video released on July 18, 2024 in which he is seen standing beside an unidentified accomplice with guns recalled that Matawalle initiated an amnesty scheme that provided financial rewards and protection for bandits who surrendered their arms and abandoned criminality

The terrorist added that Matawalle who served as Governor between 2019 and 2023, however, failed deal merely empowered some of his colleagues now residing in the cities from where they command banditry gangs operating in the bush.

Penpushing further reports that Turji emphasised that  the terrorists did not surrender their arms as stipulated in the deal but continued to carry out attacks through their boys recalling that he killed one of the bandits’ leaders in his Shinkafi Local Government Area for peace to reign, but the governor later allegedly sabotaged his efforts.

“Any person living in Shinkafi, Zurmi, and Isa (Sokoto State) cannot deny this claim. There is a particular group of bandits whom the former governor pampered. I chased the group from Shinkafi, I killed their leader, Dudu, for peace to reign in Shinkafi. The group had 200 arms, but the governor later hosted them (Dudu’s boys) at the Government House.

“But the government failed to ask the group to surrender their weapons. Another group led by Bashari Maniya has over 300 guns. I seized 30 from them. Where are the remaining? And they never surrendered their weapons to the government”, he claimed.

Penpushing also reports that Turji who is among the 97 terrorists declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters and had escaped death twice after the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji bombed his house in 2021 and 2022, alleged that some of the bandit leaders involved in the peace truce moved to the Sokoto metropolis after giving their arms to their boys kidnapping for ransom.

The terrorists gang leader explained that the boys were making returns to their leaders living in Sokoto town, and named some of them as Bashari Maniya, Kabiru, and Buhari, explaining that Dan Maaigari is the junior brother to Bashari who has 150 guns

“Dan Maigari is the junior brother to Bashari Maniya; he has 150 guns, his hideout is in the Maradun riverine area, and he is responsible for attacks in the Maradun axis. Ali is a boy to Kabiru Maniya, and he is responsible for attacks in Tangaza axis. Both Bashiri and Kabiru are residing in the Sokoto metropolis, enjoying their lives. One other person, Buhari, is also in Sokoto town enjoying himself’, he added.

“Three weeks ago, a younger brother of Buhari was apprehended with guns in the Sokoto metropolis. Let anyone come out and deny this. I can come forward with video evidence where Kabiru is seen firing machine guns’, Turji revealed

‘The question now is, where are the machine guns after they claimed that they have embraced peace and settled in Sokoto town? Who did he give the machine guns? Let the government explain this to Nigerians, who are killing the people. Let them stop blaming Bello Turji for the killings and kidnapping’.

“People that are being kidnapped in Sokoto metropolis and taken to the back of Achida and Goronyo, who is responsible for the kidnapping? Is that also Bello Turji? Who is living in peace in Shinkafi?”, he queried.

Penpushing reports that Turji who was named Muhammadu Bello at birth was reported to have carried out the December 2021 Road ambush in which at least 20 travellers, including pregnant women and children, were burnt alive in Sokoto State.

The bandits leader it is recalled had a few weeks after that incident, wrote an open letter to former President Muhammadu Buhari and the Emir of Shinkafi, outlining terms for a ceasefire in the North-West and requesting a peace agreement.

Penpushing further reports that Turji, however, gave five conditions to surrender arms and these include dissolution of unofficial vigilante groups in the North-West, a meeting with traditional rulers and religious leaders, a stop of the marginalisation of Fulanis, honest discussions between bandits, traditional rulers, and politicians, and the participation of first-class emirs in a security meeting.

The record, however, has it that Turji, like several other terrorists operating in the North-West and North-Central Niger State, has amassed wealth from illegal taxes they impose on local communities and ransom from kidnapped victims.

Penpushing also reports that in reaction to Turji’s allegation, Zamfara Conscience Movement (ZCM) has warned that there must not be an apparent close relationship between the government officials and notorious bandits and criminal gangs operating in the state.

The group in a statement pointed out that these bandits and criminals have devastated the state and neighboring areas in the North-West region adding that it finds it highly improbable that such bold statements could have been made without governmental support.

Penpushing reports that Chairman of the movement Sahabi Lawali, in the statement highlighted a prior video showing hooded armed bandits confessing to having ties with government officials, stressing that it was disturbing

‘These disturbing revelations, coupled with Turji’s audacious declarations, suggest a worrying trend of collusion between the current administration and criminal groups. This tactic undermines the rule of law, erodes the ethical foundations of our political process, and jeopardizes the safety and well-being of our citizens’, the group said

Penpushing further reports that Zamfara Conscience Movement (ZCM) boss pointed out that these are some of the factors responsible for the deteriorating security situation in Zamfara State and environs

“The lack of action from Governor Lawal in addressing these frequent invasions is disappointing. It is time for Governor Lawal to shift his attention from political squabbles to the pressing issue of security in the state’, the statement emphasised.

‘Cooperating with the federal government’s effort in addressing the root causes of these attacks and implementing effective measures to prevent future invasions should be the main focus of the government,” Lawali added.

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