Notorious Bandits Leader Bello Turji Strengthens Hold On North-West, Frees 100 Zamfara Hostages After Fresh "Peace Deal"
A notorious bandits leader, Bello Turji, has reportedly released no fewer than 100 captives in a renewed peace effort aimed at restoring stability and ending years of bloodshed and abductions in Zamfara State and other parts of the North West.
The hostages, comprising men, women, and children, were said to have been held for several months in different forest camps under Turji’s control.
According to reports, the release was the result of ongoing dialogue and confidence-building measures spearheaded by community leaders, clerics, and traditional rulers, working closely with the North West Operation Safe Corridor peace initiative.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, confirmed the development in a post on his X handle, stating that the victims were freed as part of a sustained negotiation process involving local mediators.
Makama noted that the captives were handed over to local authorities, who immediately facilitated their transfer to a nearby medical facility for health checks and psychological support before reuniting them with their families.
A source familiar with the negotiation told Makama that the release formed part of a broader peace agreement reached with Turji’s camp, in which the bandit leader pledged to suspend hostilities and work toward reconciliation in Zamfara and neighboring states.
“36 people were initially released, followed by another batch of eight, bringing the total number of freed captives to 46. The remaining victims were freed later, making over 100 persons in total,” the source said.
He added that more captives were expected to be released in the coming days as talks between Turji’s group and the mediators progress.
Makama noted that authorities are maintaining strict surveillance to ensure the peace process remains genuine and to prevent any group from using the negotiations as an opportunity to regroup or rearm.
Bello Turji, who has long been a symbol of terror in the region, has been linked to numerous mass kidnappings, attacks on villages, and highway ambushes over the past decade.
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