Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has alleged that past political leadership in parts of northern Nigeria laid the groundwork for the insecurity now ravaging the region, particularly in the North-West.
In a viral video that circulated widely online, Turji accused two former governors from Zamfara and Sokoto states of enabling violence through policies he claimed deepened ethnic tensions and armed local vigilante groups.
According to Turji, former administrations empowered vigilantes known as Yan Banga, alleging that their operations disproportionately targeted Fulani communities and triggered cycles of reprisal attacks.
He argued that the approach worsened instability rather than restoring order.
“Former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto states are responsible for the calamities that befell these states,” Turji said, insisting that their actions planted the seeds of the ongoing crisis.
Moreover, the bandit leader rejected claims that he acted as a proxy for political actors, stressing that his activities were not sponsored by any individual or group.
“We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians. There is no human being backing us,” he said.
Turji also addressed long-standing allegations surrounding peace negotiations with the Zamfara State government under a previous administration.
While confirming that meetings took place, he denied reports that he received financial or material incentives to participate.
He was responding to accusations by Musa Kamarawa, a former peace negotiator engaged by Zamfara and Sokoto state governments, who claimed that Turji collected N30 million during talks held in Gusau.
“By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even five million naira,” Turji said, dismissing the allegation as false.
He added that neither he nor any Fulani representative received cash or vehicles during the discussions.
Furthermore, Turji maintained that the meetings were intended solely to reduce violence and open channels for peace. He accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust built during the negotiations by what he described as misleading testimony.
“When the Zamfara State government appointed you, we agreed on peace, but what you are saying now is full of lies and deceit,” Turji said.
Despite his claims, Nigerian security agencies continue to identify Turji as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders in the North-West.
The military has previously declared him wanted over terror-related activities linked to mass killings and abductions.
Meanwhile, according to Vanguard, efforts to obtain reactions from the two former governors named by Turji were unsuccessful. Calls and messages sent to them were not returned as of press time.
However, sources close to the former governors dismissed Turji’s allegations, urging the public to treat his claims with caution.
One source said placing credibility on the words of a terrorist was misguided, while another described the accusations as outright falsehoods.
Additionally, the aforementioned publication stated that the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation declined to comment on the matter, allowing the claims and counterclaims to continue unfolding in the public sphere.
AFRIPOST, however, reports that the controversy adds a fresh layer to the debate over accountability for insecurity in northern Nigeria, highlighting unresolved questions around past policies, failed negotiations, and the limits of non-kinetic engagement with armed groups.