Bandit Leader Turji Agrees to Ceasefire After Talks with Clerics – Sheikh Musa Yusuf

Kaduna, August 5, 2025 – Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji and several other insurgents operating in Zamfara State have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire following negotiations with Islamic clerics inside the Fakai forest in Shinkafi Local Government Area.

The development was disclosed by prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Musa Yusuf, also known as Asadus-Sunnah, during a religious event held in Kaduna on Monday, according to a report by Premium Times.

Sheikh Yusuf said the peace gesture came after multiple rounds of negotiations with key figures responsible for insecurity in the region. Among those present at the dialogue were Turji, Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila — all described as central actors in the wave of violence that has plagued communities in the North-West.

“We met Mr. Turji, Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila,” Yusuf stated. “These individuals are responsible for the insecurity in the area, and they have all agreed to the peace proposals.”

The negotiations, according to the cleric, were initiated at the request of residents of Shinkafi, who turned to religious leaders for mediation in a bid to end attacks and allow farming to resume in the troubled region.

Sheikh Yusuf said that, as part of the peace process, members of the armed group handed over weapons in three separate phases and pledged to stop further assaults on communities. He also presented a video during the event, reportedly showing the difficult terrain traversed by hostages who had been released by the group.

Despite these encouraging signs, Yusuf noted that the clerics involved in the talks had deliberately refrained from pressing for full disarmament, citing concerns that such a move could make Turji vulnerable to rival gangs who remain outside the peace process.

“We’re proceeding cautiously. We don’t want to leave Mr. Turji exposed to other gangs who have not agreed to peace yet,” he explained, stressing that efforts were ongoing to bring about a more lasting ceasefire.

The cleric also disclosed that engagements with Turji’s faction were continuing, with hopes of reaching a permanent settlement.

However, the reported ceasefire appears to have caught authorities off guard. When contacted, Zamfara State Police Command spokesperson Yazid Abubakar said he was unaware of the development.

“I’m not aware of this,” Abubakar told Premium Times.

Similarly, Onyinyechi Anele, spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, said the military had not received any briefing on the matter but promised to provide updates once available.

The news of potential peace comes after years of deadly violence in the North-West, where banditry, mass kidnappings, and attacks on villages have led to widespread displacement and instability. Turji, in particular, has been one of the most prominent names associated with the region’s security crisis.

Though cautious optimism surrounds the reported ceasefire, many observers stress the need for transparency, inclusive dialogue, and government involvement to ensure the initiative does not collapse — as has happened with previous amnesty deals.