In a recently released video, notorious bandit leader Bello Turji accused both Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, who now serves as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, of exploiting the state’s insecurity crisis for political gain.
Turji, a fugitive from ongoing military offensives against terrorist groups in the region, issued conditions for peace, calling for an end to attacks on Fulani communities by security forces and vigilante groups.
He alleged that the conflict is deepened by these local entities, whose actions, he claims, target the Fulani ethnic group.
He further criticized the political squabbling between Lawal and Matawalle, arguing that it diverts attention from the urgent security challenges faced by ordinary citizens. According to Turji, the two leaders are more concerned with advancing their political agendas than with resolving the violence and instability plaguing Zamfara.
In the video, Turji said, “Governor Dauda Lawal and Bello Matawalle labeling each other as terrorist sponsors will not help. I want the people of Zamfara to understand that they are just politicians without the interest of the people of Zamfara in their hearts.”
He stressed that the conflict, which predates both Lawal and Matawalle, has deep roots, stretching back to the time of former governor Ahmed Yerima. Turji claimed that the crisis worsened when the government sold grazing reserves and empowered vigilante groups, further escalating violence against Fulani herders.
He added, “This is why we are calling on all of you to come and collaborate with us for peace to reign and stop the bloodbath in Zamfara. Gun and airstrikes will not stop us because we are not afraid of death.”
The video also confirmed the killing of Turji’s mentor, Kachallah Halilu Sububu, whose death, he said, has only emboldened the group. Turji warned that unless the violence against the Fulani stops, his group would continue their attacks across Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and Niger states.
As the conflict intensifies, these developments highlight the complex nature of the security issues in Zamfara and the broader northern region of Nigeria, where political, ethnic, and socio-economic factors intertwine. The Nigerian government continues to deploy military efforts in its attempt to curb terrorism and banditry, with limited success so far.
