I’ve Never Had ₦5m, I Acted Not for Personal Gain — Bello Turji

A notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji,  has refuted claims of receiving money or vehicles during peace negotiations with the Zamfara State Government. Turji stated that he has “never possessed N5 million” in his life, thereby denying the allegations.

In a viral video circulating on social media, the bandit leader said his activities are not for personal gain.

His video was in response to allegations by Musa Kamarawa, a former peace mediator appointed by the Sokoto and Zamfara state governments to facilitate dialogue with armed groups in the North-West.

Kamarawa had alleged that Turji received N30 million during several meetings with the former governor of Zamfara State, Bello Muhammad Matawalle—now Minister of State for Defence—at the Government House in Gusau. Vehicles were also reportedly distributed.

But Turji dismissed the claims as false.

‘By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even N5 million’, he said in the video. ‘What I am doing is not for personal gain. We were never given the N30 million you are talking about’.

He accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust established during negotiations and giving what he described as ‘false and mischievous testimony’. ‘We agreed on peace when the Zamfara State government appointed you’, Turji said. ‘But what you are saying now is full of lies and deceit. I did not even receive N3 million’.

Turji also sought to distance himself from political influence, claiming 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’.

He further blamed former political leaders for fuelling insecurity long before Matawalle’s administration, specifically naming former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa and former Zamfara State governor Senator Ahmed Yerima, calling for their arrest and investigation.

Although he did not comment on any recent negotiations with the Federal Government, Turji framed his remarks as a personal defence, saying he was speaking ‘before Allah alone’.