Bello Turji surrenders arms, frees 32 hostages in major Zamfara peace breakthrough
In what appears to be a major breakthrough in efforts to restore peace in Zamfara State, notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has reportedly surrendered a cache of arms and released 32 kidnapped victims following a series of peace dialogues led by Islamic clerics.
Sheikh Musa Yusuf Assadus Sunnah, one of the clerics involved, disclosed during a sermon in Kaduna that he and a group of scholars held three rounds of direct talks with Turji and his associates in Fakai forest, Shinkafi Local Government Area, in July.
“It was not an easy trip,” he said. “We had to cross a river without a canoe and travel long distances deep into the forest on motorcycles before reaching Turji’s camp.”
According to Sheikh Yusuf, the talks were initiated at the request of Shinkafi residents, who have long suffered under repeated attacks by armed groups. The meetings included other known figures in the bandit network, such as Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila—with Sheikh Yusuf confirming that contrary to public belief, Dan Bakkolo is alive and participated in the peace talks.
Arms surrendered, hostages released
As part of the initial agreements, Turji’s faction surrendered arms in three phases and allowed 32 hostages—mostly women and children—to go free. Some of the captives had been held for over four months, with reports of women giving birth in the bush and others suffering from illnesses like snake bites.
The bandits also agreed to grant farmers access to their lands, which had long been inaccessible due to the conflict.
Videos of the freed hostages and the treacherous journey taken by the clerics were shown to worshippers during the sermon.
Cautious optimism
While the dialogue has already resulted in relative calm in the Shinkafi area, Sheikh Yusuf advised against rushing full disarmament, citing threats from rival armed groups who might not support the peace process.
“It would be unwise to ask him to surrender all his weapons now, as that could expose him to other armed factions. We are engaging him gradually,” the cleric explained.
He also urged fellow religious leaders to avoid inflammatory statements about Turji, warning that hostile rhetoric could sabotage the fragile peace being built.
Government and community response
Though there has been no official statement from the federal or state governments, Sheikh Yusuf commended President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and Senator Shehu Buba for supporting non-kinetic (non-military) approaches to tackling insecurity.
An indigene of Shinkafi, Dr. Suleiman Shuaibu, confirmed the development, describing it as a significant relief for the community.
“It is true. Turji has released about 32 hostages and shown willingness to surrender arms. The people of Shinkafi are jubilant. The government has not done enough, so this move means a lot to us,” he said.
Hope for a turning point
Zamfara State has long been at the heart of Nigeria’s banditry crisis, with thousands killed, kidnapped, or displaced in recent years. Turji, considered one of the region’s most dangerous warlords, participating in peace talks and releasing hostages could mark a pivotal moment in efforts to stabilize the area—if sustained by continued grassroots engagement and robust government support.
