Tobias Sylvester
Zamfara Deputy Governor, Hassan Nasiha says that the notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, has repented and embraced peace overtures by the state government.
Bandits Kingpin Bello Turji
The deputy governor disclosed this while speaking at a conference on security organized by the Students Union of Medina University, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.
According to him, Turji met with bandits in the 14 Local Government Areas of the state, and his repentance brought about peace in Birnin Magaji, Shinkafi, and Zurmi LGAs in Zamfara.
Nasiha added that the former bandit kingpin is now helping the government in killing his unrepentant colleagues who are unleashing terror on innocent citizens.
He said, “In the last three months, there has not been any bandits attack at Magami district as a result of the peace initiative with bandits. Everyone knows the notorious bandits’ kingpin, Bello Turji who has operated on that axis.
“The state government through the peace committee entered into a peace deal with the bandits’ leader and he agreed to stop the criminality and to embrace peace.
“Turji is now killing unrepentant bandits who unleashed terror on innocent citizens in Shinkafi, Zurmi and Birnin Magaji local government areas.”
The deputy governor added that the peace committee set up by the state government met with nine bandit groups in their camps at Magami and Dansadau emirates where they raised their concerns.
“They said Hausas always attacked and raped their women, killing the Fulani on their way to or returning from markets,’’ he said.
Nasiha also said Zamfara has ordered the return of cattle grazing routes, lands, water for livestock and other property seized by Hausas to the herders.
He said the order must be respected by both parties in the conflict to enable the return of law and order in the communities.
Nasiha said the Fulani requested the government to consider freeing their youths currently in detention in correctional centres and in police cells.
“They equally requested for schools for their kids and other social services including fertilisers and farm inputs,’’ he said.
“They said lack of education would influence a 12-year-old Fulani boy to kill a 70-year-old man using AK-47 rifle.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle had recently suspended the Emir of Sabon Birnin Yandoto, Aliyu Garba Marafa, for turbaning a notorious bandits’ leader, Adamu Aliero, as Sarkin Fulani (leader of Fulani).
