A fresh wave of peace negotiations in Nigeria’s north-west has yielded early signs of progress, as feared bandit leader Bello Turji released 32 abducted individuals and submitted a portion of his weapons cache.
The development is being hailed as a potential breakthrough in the effort to curb persistent insecurity in Zamfara and surrounding states.
The news was made public by Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Musa Yusuf, also known as Asadus-Sunnah, who played a key role in mediating the talks. Addressing a religious gathering, Sheikh Yusuf shared details of recent dialogue sessions held deep inside Fakai forest, situated within the Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The initiative, according to Yusuf, was driven by desperate appeals from residents of Shinkafi, a region that has endured repeated attacks and disruptions to farming and trade. Concerned community members approached clerics to intervene and negotiate with the armed groups, in hopes of restoring calm to the embattled area.
In the course of the talks, Sheikh Yusuf and his team met not only with Turji, but also with other key figures in the bandit network, including Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila. He firmly dispelled rumours that Dan Bakkolo had been killed, confirming that he is alive and actively involved in the discussions.
“These individuals admitted their roles in the violence afflicting the region, and all agreed to the peace proposals put forward,” Yusuf said. “One of the conditions we all agreed upon was that Fulani people should be able to move freely into town without fear of profiling or retaliation from vigilante groups.”
As a gesture of goodwill, some of the armed groups handed over weapons in three phases, while Turji took a further step by releasing 32 kidnapped victims. Video evidence shared by Sheikh Yusuf captured the difficult terrain the victims had to cross as they regained their freedom from captivity.
Farming activities, once brought to a halt by the presence of armed groups, have reportedly resumed in several communities previously under bandit control. The cleric noted that this progress was made possible by the commitment shown by the groups during the dialogue sessions.
Despite these advances, Yusuf acknowledged the limitations of the current peace process. He explained that the clerics had chosen not to demand full disarmament from Turji’s group for now, citing security concerns. “If we push for complete disarmament too early, we could endanger Turji himself,” he said, noting the presence of rival armed groups who are not part of the ongoing talks.
The gradual and cautious approach, he added, aims to build trust and allow for a broader and more sustainable peace framework in the future. While the journey to lasting peace in the region remains long and uncertain, the cleric believes the current efforts represent a meaningful step in the right direction.