Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader, has acknowledged that he engaged in discussions with officials from Zamfara State during the tenure of former Governor Bello Matawalle, who currently serves as Minister of State for Defence.
Turji denied reports that he received ₦30 million as part of the talks, calling the claims false and misleading. He instead urged authorities to investigate and arrest those spreading the allegations.
The bandit’s confirmation sheds new light on past attempts by the Zamfara government to negotiate peace with armed groups in the region.
Turji’s statements come amid ongoing debates about the role of dialogue and payments in government strategies to curb banditry in Northern Nigeria.
Security experts say such revelations could complicate perceptions of past administrations’ handling of banditry and raise questions about accountability.
The call for investigations by Turji underscores tensions between official narratives and the actions of armed groups, highlighting challenges in addressing insecurity in the region.


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