December 13, 2025 — Dalena Reporters
Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has reportedly admitted to meeting and working with former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle and several other high-profile individuals in recent months, according to statements obtained by security sources. The revelation has intensified concerns about the entanglement of political figures with criminal networks in northwestern Nigeria.
The admission came during an interrogation session held by Nigerian security operatives, during which Turji detailed meetings with political actors, local power brokers, and community intermediaries, ostensibly aimed at negotiating ceasefires or influencing local politics. Sources close to the investigation confirmed that Turji named Matawalle among the individuals he met, though the context and outcomes of these interactions remain under scrutiny.
Security analysts have described the development as a serious indictment of the porous interface between political leadership and armed criminal groups, highlighting the risks posed to governance, public safety, and the rule of law in Zamfara and neighboring states.
Turji, a figure long associated with violent banditry, kidnappings, and cattle rustling, reportedly justified the meetings as part of strategic negotiations to secure temporary truces and facilitate ransom exchanges. Nevertheless, law enforcement and civil society observers have warned that such engagements legitimize criminal actors and undermine state authority.
A spokesperson for the Zamfara State Government has neither confirmed nor denied the meetings but emphasized that the state remains committed to combating banditry and ensuring security for residents. Meanwhile, federal security agencies are said to be conducting a comprehensive investigation to determine whether any political actors breached the law by engaging with known criminals.
Analysts caution that the Turji disclosure could have far-reaching political implications, particularly given ongoing debates about governance, accountability, and anti-crime strategies in Nigeria’s northwest. The report also raises questions about the effectiveness of current security policies and the extent to which negotiations with armed groups may be shaping political outcomes in volatile states.
The situation continues to evolve, with security operatives and political observers closely monitoring the developments, assessing both criminal liability and political accountability, and considering policy adjustments to prevent further convergence between state actors and armed criminal networks.
Bello Turji, notorious for leading heavily armed bandit groups in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna states, has been linked to kidnappings, cattle rustling, and violent raids since 2017. Despite ongoing military operations and federal interventions, Turji’s network remains resilient, exploiting weak state security presence and local political fault lines.
Timeline of Key Interactions and Security Operations:
- 2017–2018: Turji emerges as a principal bandit leader in Zamfara’s Maru, Anka, and Talata Mafara LGAs, conducting raids on villages and establishing control over ransom negotiations. Initial reports suggest indirect local political tolerance in some areas due to influence networks.
- 2019: Reports indicate Turji’s bandit groups expanded into Sokoto and Kaduna, coinciding with weakening state security patrols. Local intermediaries reportedly facilitated dialogue between Turji and traditional rulers to negotiate temporary truces.
- 2020–2021: Turji is implicated in high-profile kidnappings for ransom, including mass abductions of schoolchildren. Security operations increase under federal directives, but Turji reportedly leverages political connections to negotiate temporary ceasefires, particularly in election-sensitive periods.
- 2022: Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle reportedly engaged local leaders to broker peace agreements. Sources suggest intermediaries may have indirectly communicated with Turji to maintain relative calm in rural communities.
- 2023: Turji reportedly strengthens his political outreach, allegedly meeting with community and political actors under the guise of conflict resolution. Federal security forces launch Operation Puff Adder, targeting Turji’s camps, but the bandit leader evades capture through mobility and local intelligence.
- 2024–Early 2025: Turji allegedly engages in direct or indirect meetings with political figures, including former and current state-level actors. Sources indicate these meetings often coincide with pushing for truces or negotiating release of abducted victims, though federal authorities warn such engagements risk legitimizing criminal operations.
- December 2025: Turji admits in security interrogations to meeting former Governor Bello Matawalle and other political actors, confirming suspicions of political linkages. Federal agencies initiate thorough investigations into these contacts, examining potential breaches of law and the influence of banditry on political processes.
Analysis:
- Criminal-Political Nexus: Turji’s interactions with political figures exemplify a delicate but dangerous nexus where armed groups and political actors intersect. While purportedly for negotiation or truces, such contacts risk undermining state authority and emboldening bandits.
- Impact on Security Strategy: Military operations have been undermined by political negotiations, as bandit leaders exploit temporary truces to regroup. Analysts argue that unless political actors refrain from informal deals, federal anti-banditry strategies may remain ineffective.
- Electoral Implications: Given Zamfara’s swing-state status and history of contested elections, bandit groups like Turji’s can inadvertently or deliberately influence political outcomes. Alleged meetings with politicians could affect perceptions of legitimacy and voter safety in sensitive LGAs.
Policy Recommendations:
- Strengthen federal oversight of state-level negotiations with bandits.
- Implement legal frameworks to criminalize political engagement with armed groups.
- Enhance intelligence-sharing between federal security and traditional leadership to prevent bandit exploitation of political processes.
- Publicly disclose investigations into political-banding interactions to maintain citizen trust.