Security Expert Dispels Rumours Of Turji’s Surrender
A Sokoto-based security commentator Basharu Altine has dismissed stories making the rounds in the media that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has surrendered, describing the claims as “false and misleading.”
Altine, who has been reporting terrorism and banditry for over a decade covering the North-West of the country made the clarification following reports claiming the bandits kingpin surrendered following a series of meetings with some Islamic clerics in his hideout at Fakai forest.
According to Altine Turji is far from laying down his arms, Turji remains active in eastern Sokoto and neighbouring Zamfara State, where his group continues to unleash violence and extortion on farming communities.
“Turji has not surrendered. In fact, his group is more emboldened, in the last 50 days alone, villagers in 34 communities have been forced to pay over ₦100 million in so-called ‘peace levies’ just to be allowed to farm during the rainy season.”
He said the “levies” collected under the guise of a tax system enforced by Turji’s fighters are demanded from residents of Isa and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas in Sokoto State, as well as Shinkafi in Zamfara State.
Altine revealed that the payments are part of a broader campaign of intimidation that has forced locals to choose between surrendering their meagre resources or abandoning their farmlands altogether, a decision that could worsen food insecurity in the region.
He said In addition to the mass extortion, Turji’s Gwali Gwali camp is believed to be holding between 85 and 150 people hostage, all abducted from eastern Sokoto and neighbouring communities Fakai, Dangwandai and Tsaika.
He warned that the circulation of false claims about Turji’s surrender could undermine ongoing counter-insurgency efforts and weaken community vigilance.
“People must be careful with what they believe and share, spreading claims about Turji’s surrender only helps him operate under less public scrutiny, while the real victims continue to suffer.”
Security sources in the region also confirmed there is no official record of Turji’s surrender or demobilisation, urging the public to rely on credible information from government agencies and reputable news outlets.
Security Expert Dispels Rumours Of Turji’s Surrender is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
