The ex-governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa has cried out over the continued rampage of the notorious terrorist and bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, in the state and calls on the government for immediate intervention.
The ex-governor alleged that the wanted bandit leader has been terrorising several communities in the state, adding that he has mobilized more of his men to launch an attack on some of the communities along the Zamfara- Sokoto axis, therefore calling on the government to speedily intervene and ameliorate the mayhem.
“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.
According to reports, Turji’s relatives were allegedly detained by the security operatives for their involvement in terrorist activities. The bandit leader issued an ultimatum for their release, without which he would unleash unimaginable mayhem in some parts of the state, threatening to rain thunder and brimstone if the deadline elapses with compliance.
Turji had mentioned that the deadline would be 1st January 2025 and would begin his activities afterwards if the authorities fail to act according to his tenet. However, the governor of Zamfera State, Dauda Lawal Dare had stated explicitly during a recent media interview that his administration is not ready to strike any peace accord with the bandit kingpin who has caused lots of havoc in the state but would rather continue to support the military and the Askarawan Zamfara, the state’s security outfit, to bring the terrorist and his cohorts to book.
Consequently, Bello Turji has started unleashing threats to some parts of the state, most especially, the Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State and other neighbouring communities.
Recall that Turji had on Christmas day released a viral video threatening to kill and kidnap people in the Shinkafi axis. “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.
