ZAMFARA STATE, NIGERIA – Notorious terrorist figure Bello Turji has accused Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal and his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, now the Minister of State for Defence, of exploiting the state’s ongoing insecurity for political gain. In a newly released video, Turji issued a series of demands for peace and denounced what he called the politicization of the violent conflict in the region.
Turji, who fled Zamfara due to intensified military actions against terrorist groups, appeared in the video armed and seated on a new motorcycle. In the footage, he demanded that security forces and vigilante groups stop attacking and killing Fulani people in Zamfara and other states, claiming these actions were aggravating the conflict.
He also criticized the current and former governors of Zamfara for engaging in a blame game rather than addressing the root causes of the region’s violence. “Governor Dauda Lawal and Bello Matawalle labelling each other as terrorist sponsors will not help,” Turji stated. “They are just politicians without the interest of the people of Zamfara at heart.”
Turji asserted that the armed conflict in Zamfara predates both Governor Lawal and Minister Matawalle, tracing the unrest back to the administration of former governor Ahmed Yerima. According to Turji, during Yerima’s tenure, the government sold grazing reserves and legalized the killing of Fulanis, setting the stage for the current crisis. He added that subsequent administrations, including those of Abdulaziz Yari and Matawalle, only worsened the situation by empowering local vigilantes.
“When Abdulaziz Yari was governor, he empowered the vigilante groups, and we are still struggling today,” Turji said. “Neither Matawalle nor Dauda can stop this conflict—only God can.”
Turji also confirmed the death of Halilu Sububu, a senior terrorist leader he referred to as his mentor, but warned that the killing would not stop their attacks. He called on the people of Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and Niger states to collaborate with them for peace, warning that military force would not deter his group. “Gunfire and airstrikes will not stop us because we are not afraid of death,” Turji declared.
He emphasized that continued killings of Fulani people in the region would only fuel more violence, accusing the government of attempting to exterminate the Fulani race. “Even if you kill us, it’s God who has ordained it, not your power,” Turji added, stressing their readiness to continue fighting unless the government meets their demands.
The video message comes amid increasing pressure on the Nigerian military to curb terrorist activities in Zamfara and neighboring states. Despite ongoing military operations, the region remains a hotspot for violence, with Turji’s group and others maintaining strongholds in rural areas.
For now, Turji’s conditions for peace remain unmet, and the situation in Zamfara continues to be a critical challenge for both local and national authorities.
