Bandit kingpin Bello Turji offers to surrender, preaches no more bloodshed 

By Amah

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Turji said in a trending video the killing of the innocent masses is enough, though he blamed the killings on government agents.

However, he noted that his intention to surrender is a call for peaceful coexistence among farmers and herders in the region and not because they had been overpowered.

“We are calling on the incumbent administration to understand that the agents it is sending to kill innocent people in the name of bandits is not a good thing,” Turji said in the viral video.

“We are calling on the Zamfara State and Federal Government for peace. Enough of the killing.

“We urge the government to compensate those affected and embrace peace with herders and farmers.

“Let’s all embrace peace. We are calling for peace, not because of the speculations that we are being overpowered. We are only surrendering for peace to reign and to return to peaceful cohabitation between farmers and headers.

“We call on our fighters across the bushes to sheath their swords and embrace peace.”

Turji’s offer had been received with scepticism in security circles.

Zagazola Makama, a renowned counter-insurgency expert and Lake Chad security analyst, rubbished the reported offer to surrender and peace as a desperate, strategic move rather than genuine repentance.

“Turji is not laying down arms because he suddenly loves peace. He is doing so because his operational capabilities have been severely weakened,” wrote on X.

He cited the bandit kingpin’s diminished operational strength, following the killing of Danbokolo, his right-hand man and key battlefield commander, in a recent joint security operation involving operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) and the Hybrid Forces, a local security outfit that includes members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

Makama added that Danbokolo’s killing, created a leadership vacuum and threw Turji’s once-formidable bandit group into disarray, which prompted him to insincerely wave the surrender flag as a strategy for survival.