A notorious terrorist commander, Bello Turji, has reportedly surrendered part of his weaponry and released 32 kidnapped victims as part of a peace initiative brokered by Islamic clerics in Zamfara State.
One of the clerics involved in the negotiations, Sheikh Musa Yusuf, popularly known as Asadus-Sunnah, disclosed the development during a religious gathering in Kaduna on Monday.
Yusuf stated that the breakthrough followed a series of engagements in July with Turji and other armed leaders operating within the Fakai forest in the Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
“We met Mr Turji, Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila. The speculation that Dan Bakkolo was killed is not true. These individuals are responsible for the insecurity in the area, and they all agreed to the peace proposals,” Yusuf said.
He explained that the initiative was prompted by residents of Shinkafi who appealed to the clerics to intervene and persuade Turji to halt the incessant attacks, thereby allowing farmers access to their lands.
“We agreed that the Fulanis must be allowed to go to town without being stereotyped or killed by the vigilante,” he added.
According to him, the group surrendered part of their arms in three stages and gave assurances that residents could resume farming in previously restricted forest zones under their control.
As part of the confidence-building process, Turji released 32 individuals held in captivity. Sheikh Yusuf presented a video at the gathering, which showed the difficult terrain the released captives had to navigate in order to leave Turji’s base.
Yusuf clarified that the clerics deliberately avoided demanding the surrender of all weapons in order to prevent Turji and his group from becoming vulnerable to rival factions that have not subscribed to the peace accord.
Efforts are still ongoing to achieve a full cessation of hostilities and broaden the scope of the peace engagement.
The development comes amid heightened concerns over the deteriorating security situation in northwestern Nigeria, particularly in Zamfara State, which has witnessed repeated attacks by armed groups operating under various factions.
PUO-Reports will continue to monitor the evolving security landscape as further outcomes from the peace efforts emerge.
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