Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has confirmed that he held peace meetings with the Zamfara State Government during the administration of former Gov. Bello Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence, but denied receiving ₦30 million or vehicles from the state.
Turji made the clarification in a video circulated on social media on Saturday, in response to allegations by a former peace mediator, Musa Kamarawa, who claimed that money and vehicles were shared with bandits during the talks.
According to Turji, the meetings were part of efforts to restore peace in Zamfara State, stressing that neither he nor any Fulani leader benefitted financially from the engagements.
He accused Kamarawa of breaching the trust built during the negotiations and giving false testimony.
Meanwhile, residents of Sokoto State have warned against politicising insecurity in the North-West, urging political actors to exercise restraint and allow security agencies to carry out their duties.
Security agencies have, however, continued to list Turji among the most wanted armed group leaders in the region.
