Zamfara gov’t commends notorious bandit kingpin, Turji for accepting peace

Zamfara State government has commended the State based notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji for accepting peace after a peace meeting initiated by governor, Mohammed Bello Matawalle.

The peace initiative by the State government was to end banditry in Zamfara and in the North West States.

The commendation came from the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Hassan Nasiha who also chaired the peace meeting with bandits operating in the State.

Speaking during a conference on security in Gusau, the State capital organized by the Students Union Of Medina University Nasiha opined that the bandit kingpin’s acceptance would translate to relative peace in Zamfara and other States.

He revealed that there was peace for the past five weeks, as there was no clash between the Fulanis and Hausas in Birnin Magaji, Shinkafi and Zurmi Local Government Areas of the State as a result of the dialogue to broker peace between the two warring factions in the State.

“There were several wars which fought but that did not stop the parties involved from dialogue to resolve their differences through a peace deal.

“It is in the light of this that governor Bello Mohammed thought it is necessary to use kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. It would not be a gun battle or a war using whatever weapons between the bandits and the people.”

According to him, he supervised a peace meeting on the instruction of the governor with nine bandits’ camps at Magami District and Dansadau Emirate of Gusau and Maru Local Government Areas of the State to stop attacking innocent citizens, while he expressed optimism that there would be permanent peace.

“This is why in the last three months at Magami District, there has not been any bandits attack as a result of the peace initiative with the bandits. The Committee met with nine bandits’ camps at Magami and Dansadau Emirate where the bandits raised their concerns.

“They said the Hausas always attacked and raped their women, killing the Fulanis on their way to or returning from the market. There is no school built for our Children, this ignorance pushed them to join in engaging banditry.”

He further stated that Turji, who keyed into the amnesty of Governor Bello Matawalle, is now launching an offensive against the terrorists in the areas to ensure peace and stability returns to the state.