A notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has released 32 kidnapped victims and pledged to suspend attacks on farmers in Zamfara State, following negotiations with Islamic clerics, a prominent religious leader said on Monday.
Speaking at a religious gathering in Kaduna, Sheikh Musa Yusuf, popularly known as Asadus-Sunnah, confirmed that Turji agreed to the peace initiative after several meetings held in July at his hideout in the Fakai forest, Zamfara.
According to Yusuf, the agreement also involved other known armed group leaders, including Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila.
As part of the deal, Turji surrendered a portion of his weapons in a symbolic gesture toward ending violence in the Shinkafi Local Government Area.
“They surrendered the arms in three phases and allowed residents of Shinkafi to return to their farms safely,” Yusuf stated.
“Mr. Turji also released 32 kidnapped captives as part of the peace agreement.”
Yusuf presented video evidence showing some of the released individuals and the difficult terrain they crossed to reach Turji’s enclave.
He said the hostages, including women and children, had been held for nearly four months, with some women giving birth in captivity. One reportedly suffered a snakebite during detention.
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The cleric noted that since the agreement, the region has experienced relative calm, allowing farming activities to resume.
However, he clarified that Turji had not been asked to surrender all of his weapons to avoid exposure to rival factions.
“We are still persuading him to commit to total peace. But to force full disarmament at this stage would make him vulnerable,” Yusuf said.
He cautioned other religious leaders against making inflammatory remarks online, warning such statements could threaten the fragile peace.
Yusuf acknowledged that the peace deal may not end all terrorist activity in Zamfara but said it was already making a difference in areas under Turji’s control.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, and Senator Shehu Buba for supporting a non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity in the region.
In a video released in October, Turji had warned that attacks on Fulani communities by security forces and vigilantes must stop for peace to prevail in Zamfara.
He also criticized political leaders for failing to prioritize the safety of citizens.