Bello Turji, a notorious banditry leader, recently narrated the origins of banditry in Zamfara State, Nigeria. In a five-minute video, Turji, seated under a tree with a sophisticated gun and military hat, described how the crime took root in the northwestern state. Responding to a background voice, he detailed the genesis of armed banditry.
This article is sourced from The Premium Times newspaper, with minor edits and adaptations by The Spectacles for clarity and readability.
Genesis of Armed Banditry
Turji claimed that the Fulani community lived peacefully with their Hausa neighbors until a former governor of Zamfara State, Ahmad Sani Bakura, implemented a partial Sharia Law. According to Turji, this law was used selectively to subjugate the Fulanis, leading to significant tensions. He recalled an incident where a Fulani man had his hand amputated for stealing, marking the beginning of unrest. Turji attributed the subsequent atrocities in Zamfara to the abrupt cessation of the Sharia Law after it was partially enforced.
Vigilantes and Yan Sakai Militia
Turji explained that local vigilantes and the Yan Sakai militia exacerbated the grievances of the Fulani community. He mentioned figures like DanKurman Galadima and Bala Maigora, who led extrajudicial killings of herders across Zamfara with no government intervention. The killings continued for about two years until Buharin Daji and his group retaliated. Turji accused the government of siding against the Fulanis, leading to further violence and cattle rustling.
Formation of Armed Groups
As hostilities continued, the Hausas formed the Yan Sakai militia, armed with dane guns, to continue attacking the Fulanis. This forced the Fulanis to arm themselves and start attacking villages. Turji noted that they initially had a few guns, but the number grew as the conflict escalated. He recounted that when he started banditry, they had only 30 guns and were driven to violence by the actions of the vigilantes.
Claims of Subjugation
This narrative is not new for Turji. In a previous interview with Daily Trust, he claimed that banditry was a reaction to the subjugation of the Fulanis by the Hausas. Early bandit kingpins, primarily engaged in cattle rustling, justified their actions as a means to liberate the Fulanis. Murtala Ahmed Rufai, a senior lecturer at Usmanu DanFodiyo University, supports this perspective in his academic paper titled “I Am a Bandit.”
Evolution of Banditry
The first bandit group emerged in Zamfara in 2011, initially focusing on cattle rustling and robbery. Efforts to suppress the group worsened the situation as vigilantes and the Yan Sakai militia allegedly targeted innocent Fulanis. This led to the rise of armed groups with trans-border links, escalating the conflict to include kidnapping, village raids, and other heinous crimes.
Banditry peaked in 2018 after the assassination of Buharin Daji, leading to the formation of about 30 splinter groups in Zamfara and neighboring states such as Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, and Niger.
Turji’s Reign of Terror
It is unclear if Turji was part of the groups that emerged post-Daji’s assassination, but he has since terrorized communities in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Shinkafi, and other LGAs in Zamfara State. Turji has amassed wealth through illegal taxes imposed on local communities.
Born Muhammadu Bello, Turji orchestrated a violent attack in December 2021, burning over 20 travelers, including pregnant women and children, in Sokoto State. Following this, he wrote an open letter to former President Muhammadu Buhari and the Emir of Shinkafi, proposing a ceasefire under specific conditions. These conditions included the dissolution of unofficial vigilante groups, meetings with traditional and religious leaders, addressing Fulani marginalization, honest discussions between bandits and leaders, and involving first-class emirs in security meetings.
Wanted by Authorities
Turji is among the 97 terrorists declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters. He narrowly escaped death twice when the air component of Operation Hadarin Daji bombed his house in 2021 and 2022, killing many of his foot soldiers.
