Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has publicly accused two former northern governors of worsening insecurity in Zamfara and Sokoto states.
The allegations surfaced in a viral video released on Sunday, in which Turji claimed that previous political leadership laid the foundation for persistent violence in the region.
According to Turji, he participated in multiple peace meetings with the Zamfara State government during the tenure of a former governor. He firmly denied media reports suggesting he received N30 million or other incentives to join the initiatives, insisting that the claims were false.
Attempts to obtain comments from the former governors were unsuccessful, though sources close to them dismissed Turji’s allegations as baseless. “Why would anyone give credence to the words of a terrorist? He is only trying to portray himself as a victim. It is all lies,” one insider remarked.
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In the video, Turji further alleged that past administrations supported vigilante groups known as ‘Yan Banga,’ which he claims targeted Fulani communities and fueled violence across the region. He also demanded that the former governors be investigated and held accountable for the ongoing security crises.
“We openly hold the former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto responsible for the calamities that befell these states,” Turji asserted, placing blame squarely on their administrations.
