Bafarawa, Yarima architect of banditry in the north, said Turji in viral video online..

Notorious bandits’ leader in the north west, Kachalla Bello Turji, has confirmed that, two former governors of Sokoto and Zamfara states are the architect of spread of banditry in the north as results of their injustice to Fulani communities living peacefully with Hausa and farmers in villages of the two states.

They siezed majority of the grazing reserves used by Fulani, these grazing reserves are being used by majority of Fulani in the areas for their cattles; but were given to different kind of people while Fulani communities suffered most as result of assault and attacks by local community who perpetuated violence and injustice against Fulani community.

In a viral video online, the bandits’ leader said, these two former political leaders in Zamfara and Sokoto states aided the escalation of criminal activities, especially banditry in the states, something that have contributed to the insecurity challenges in the region long time before Matawalle’s era, alleging that they armed groups of people known as ‘Yan Sa-Kai’ and encouraged the formation of vigilantes that targeted mostly Fulani communities.

Turji also confirmed that they have held series of peace meetings with then Zamfara State Government during former governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle, now Minister of State for Defence for peaceful resolution between Fulani groups.

However, the bandit kingpin strongly denied claims that he was paid ₦30 million or given vehicles as part of the engagement with Matawalle government.

Turji’s response followed allegations by one Musa Kamarawa, a former peace mediator appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara State governments to bring bandits to a table of negotiations in order to end banditry activities through a non-kinetic efforts.

“My enmity with Matawalle is much more bigger than anything, because he ordered the military attacks on my village that have killed over 76 of my siblings and lieutenants, after his security arrested and detained my father without justice. So, I will never sided or support him, rather not to accused him of something that he didn’t do”

In a similar video, Musa had claimed that the former governor of Zamfara state Matawalle held a series of meetings with bandits, including Turji, at the Government House in Gusau and allegedly gave out money and vehicles to them to stop killing people.

Kamarawa specifically alleged that Turji received ₦30 million during the peace process.

However, in a viral video message circulated online, Turji described the claims as false, insisting that although peace talks took place, he never received such payments or any other Fulani leader on his behalf.

“By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even five million naira,” Turji said. “What I am doing is not for personal gain. We were never given that ₦30 million you are talking about.”

According to Turji, the meetings with government officials were part of a peace initiative aimed at reducing violence in the state and maintained that he did not personally benefit financially from the process.

He accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust established during the negotiations and giving what he described as “false, mischief testimony.”

“We agreed on peace when the Zamfara State government appointed you,” Turji said in the message, addressing Musa Kamarawa. “But what you are saying now is full of lies, deceit, I did not even receive three million naira.”

“We say openly that former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto, Bafarawa alongside Ahmed Sani Yerima, are responsible for the calamities that befell these states,” Turji claimed.

Turji sought to distance himself from political influence, insisting that he was not acting on behalf of any politician or interest group.

“We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians,” he said. “There is no human being backing us.”

Thought Turji did not talk about recent negotiations with federal government, instead, he framed his comments as a personal defence, saying he was speaking “before Allah alone.”

Nigerian security agencies have repeatedly identified Bello Turji as one of the most dangerous armed group leaders operating in the North-West, with the military previously declaring him wanted over terror-related activities.