In a bold statement from his undisclosed hideout, wanted bandit kingpin Bello Turji has openly challenged Nigeria’s security forces, declaring, “I’m not afraid to die.”
Turji, who is among the 43 terrorists declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters, made his remarks in a five-minute and forty-second video, where he also called for dialogue with the federal government to put an end to the ongoing armed violence in Zamfara State.
The notorious figure, who recently confirmed the killing of his boss, Halilu Sububu, asserted that such violence would not silence him or his followers.
“Sadists, who claimed that we are about to be killed, we are very sure that we are not in the world to stay for eternity. We are always ready to be killed,” he stated, emphasizing a readiness to face death.
Turji criticized the political leadership in Zamfara, accusing current Governor Dauda Lawal and former Governor Bello Matawalle of failing to represent the interests of the people.
“When Matawalle was the governor, who was sponsoring us? When Abdulaziz Yari was the governor, who was sponsoring us? Nobody is sponsoring us except God,” he said, further claiming that historical grievances had led to the current state of violence.
In a plea to the residents of Zamfara, Turji urged them to stop the killings of his kin, suggesting that peace could only be achieved through collaboration.
“Your only plan is to exterminate the Fulani race while God has been protecting us. Even if you kill us, it’s God who ordained that to happen, but it’s not by your power,” he warned.
The situation in Zamfara remains tense as armed groups continue to wreak havoc across the region, prompting concerns from both local communities and national security agencies.
As the violence escalates, Turji’s defiant message underscores the complexities of addressing the ongoing crisis and the urgent need for dialogue to find a lasting resolution.