Terror Leader Writes Government, Gives Conditions For Peace In Northwest Nigeria

Notorious terror leader, Bello Turji, whose group has been unleashing havoc on communities in the Sokoto and Zamfara states of Northwestern Nigeria has allegedly listed conditions for him and his men to lay down their arms.

In an open letter written in Hausa language and obtained by HumAngle, Turji is calling for a truce between his group in Zamfara, and the Nigerian Government.

His letter, addressed to the  Nigerian Government via Shinkafi Emirate Council appealing for peace talks, was dated Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. 

HumAngle also gathered that the letter was hand-delivered to the Emirate Council through one of the unconditionally released victims of abduction from the Turji’s camp on Tuesday.

Dr Tijjani Salihu Shinkafi, a lecturer at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto who is also a resident of the area, and Mansur Muhammad Birnin Yero, resident of Shinkafi, confirmed the receipt of the letter.

“This letter was received at Shinkafi Emirate Council when the terrorist members loyal to Turji reportedly suffered a heavy blow on Thursday in Katanga village of Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State,” they told HumAngle. 

Several others were killed in a gun duel between the military operation led by the General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen.U.U. Massey and the terrorists.

Turji, in his letter, penned down five issues critical to the restoration and sustenance of peace and order in the northwest region.

He and his group are operating in Shinkafi, Isa, Sabon-Birni, Rabah and Goronyo Local Government Areas of Zamfara and Sokoto states. 

According to the letter translated to the English language, Turji said “massive killing of innocent citizens, vigilante groups, and security agents including the kidnapping for ransom shall come to an end by the grace of God.

“This is subject to the unconditional ban of vigilantes groups. Then we will drop all our arms.”

The terror leader also asked for a roundtable with traditional rulers and religious leaders, including Sheikh Ahmad Gummi, Kaduna based Islamic cleric, demanding that there should be a stop to the ongoing military actions against him and his groups.

Various acts of terrorism have been attributed to Bello Turji, across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger states. Most recent of which has been the murder of 23 travellers in Sokoto state, who were burnt alive. The attack has drawn national outrage which has culminated into peaceful protests against insecurity across the north of the country, such as in Kano, Kaduna, and Bauchi states.