Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State, has alleged that notorious terrorist and bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, had mobilized his men and launched attacks in communities along the Zamfara- Sokoto axis, calling on the government to intervene.
“If an individual like Turji would unleash such mayhem and disrupt movement in our communities, then it calls for action. Government should rise up to the challenge,” Bafarawa said in an interview with RFI Hausa.
Reports indicated that Turji, whose relatives were allegedly detained by security operatives for alleged terrorist acts, issued a January 1, 2025 deadline for his relative to to freed. He was said to have threatened thunder and brimstone if the deadline expired.
A local in the affected communities, told journalists on the phone, that Turji and his men had since launched attacks on the communities, particularly those in Shinkafi Local Government Area, causing hundreds to flee to supposedly, safer locations.
Recall that Governor Dauda Lawal Dare of Zamfara State had in an interview, reiterated that his administration was not contemplating any peace pact with the terrorists, and would continue to support the military, security operatives and the Askarawan Zamfara, the state’s security outfit, so that they restore peace and sanity in all parts of the state.
Bello Turji had on Christmas Day threatened to commence 2025, by killing and kidnapping people in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State and other neighbouring communities, unless his relative was released. Subsequently, Turji ‘s bandits in Shinkafi kidnapped passengers from Gusau, the state capital and set their vehicle on fire. The passengers, about 10 and the driver were herded into the bush by the hoodlums.
The incident had, reportedly, made people suspend travelling in the area.
Turji had in a viral video, warned the Zamfara communities to be ready to be killed and be kidnapped for ransom in 2025 if his relatives, allegedly arrested by security operatives, were not released.
“I will begin 2025 by killing the people of Shinkafi. Thereafter, we will demand ransom and they will not have peace of mind. We will disrupt the peaceful order and restore conflict. If they don’t want this, they must release our people who have been arrested,” Turji warned in the video.
