• Bello Turji confirms readiness to surrender in Zamfara.
• Military denies any formal deal with the bandit leader.
• Clerics claim release of 32 kidnapped victims.

Bello Turji, Nigeria’s feared bandit commander, has signalled readiness to abandon violence and join peace talks in Zamfara.

The 29-year-old warlord, long blamed for raids in Shinkafi and Zurmi, released 32 captives and surrendered weapons last month.

He engaged clerics deep in Fakai forest, where multiple dialogue sessions led to the release of women and children.

The gesture, described as a breakthrough by some, has reignited debate over reconciling with militant groups in the North-West.

Bello Turji confirms readiness to surrender

Counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama said Turji expressed genuine interest in peace if treated as a partner, not a criminal.

Clerics, including Sheikh Musa Yusuf, reported progress, noting that Turji allowed farmers to return and pledged protection for Fulani residents.

Videos shared by clerics showed released captives, including women and children, trekking through rough terrain to freedom. Some had spent four months in captivity, with women giving birth in the bush and at least one victim surviving a snake bite.

Still, questions remain. Military authorities have distanced themselves from reports of his surrender, stressing that no official deal has been reached.

“Contrary to circulating reports, Turji has not surrendered to the military,” said Major-General Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations.

Military disputes claims of peace deal

Defence officials insist that while local dialogue is ongoing, it falls outside the government’sBandit Leader Bello Turji Signals Willingness to Lay Down Armsformal counter-insurgency framework. They argue that without full disarmament, any truce risks collapsing under pressure from rival gangs or unresolved grievances.

Turji himself has previously accused politicians and security forces of politicising the conflict.

According to Business Day, in a video released in October 2024, he warned that peace would remain elusive unless attacks on Fulani communities ceased, declaring, “Guns and airstrikes will not stop us because we are not afraid of death.”

Whether his latest overtures mark a real turning point or a tactical manoeuvre remains unclear.

For now, the prospect of Turji’s surrender continues to divide opinion between those hopeful for peace and those wary of legitimising a man responsible for some of Zamfara’s deadliest atrocities.