Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has released 32 kidnapped victims and vowed to end attacks on farmers following peace talks with Islamic clerics.
Renowned Islamic scholar Musa Yusuf (Asadus-Sunnah) led the peace talks with Turji at his camp in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
He explained that residents of Shinkafi reached out to his team of clerics, asking them to speak with Turji so they could return to their farms located in the forests.
The meetings, he said, were held three times in July inside the Fakai forest.
“We met Mr Turji, Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa and Malam Ila. The speculation that Dan Bakkolo was killed is not true. These people are the ones terrorising the axis, and they all agreed to the peace proposals, one of which is for them to surrender some of their arms to show commitment to the peace process.
“They surrendered the arms in three phases at different times, and allowed the residents of Shinkafi to access their farms in the forest across the river heading to Mr Turji enclaves. We agreed that the Fulanis must be allowed to go to town without being stereotyped or killed by the vigilante.
“He (Turji) also released 32 kidnapped captives as part of the peace agreement,” Mr Yusuf said.
Moreover, since the agreement, the Shinkafi area has witnessed calm, and locals are now farming without fear of abduction.
Musa Yusuf cautioned other clerics against making statements that could exacerbate the situation, emphasizing the importance of a peaceful approach.
Yusuf praised President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, and Senator Shehu Buba for supporting a peaceful approach to resolving the state’s security crisis.
Meanwhile, while the peace pact may not end all terrorism in Zamfara, communities under Turji’s control are now enjoying some level of stability.