Sokoto Massacre Mastermind Bello Turji Must Be Arrested Dead, Alive

By James Orji

The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC said the federal government must do all in its part to fish out the bandit leader, Bello Turji who masterminded the spate of killings in Sokoto state in recent times.

The bandits, said to have fled Zamafara state in the face of the military onslaught against them have killed scores of people in recent times, the most recent being the killing of more than 20 travelers in cold blood.

The travelers which included children and women were later set on fire by the evil bandits who watched their victims burnt to ashes.

The murderous act of the bandits has attracted outrage from many Nigerians including the governor of the state, Aminu Bello Tambuwal and President Muhammadu Buhari.

As a response to the killings, President Buhari , last week ordered heads of security agencies in the country to take charge of the situation in the state and rein in the criminals.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said in a statement, last week, titled ‘President Buhari Sends Security, Intelligence Heads To Sokoto, Katsina,’ that the president is worried about the security situation in the state.

According to Shehu, “The President is expecting an immediate situation report and recommendations on actions to follow to effectively deal with the worrying situation.”

The security chiefs include the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd), the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi; Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo.

Speaking on the issue, in a statement on Monday, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, MURIC Director said the only way to arrest the situation is to fish out the bandits’ leader in the state and punish him.

Dead or alive, the Islamic leader said, Turji must be fished out and punished accordingly, adding that this will curtail further killing in Sokoto and neighbouring Katsina state where bandits murdered Rabe Nasir, commissioner for science and technology last week.

According to MURIC, “Sources close to the Sokoto branch of MURIC have reported the strong nexus between one Bello Turji, a notorious bandit, and insecurity in Sokoto and Zamfara states.

“He coordinates almost all attacks and he was allegedly behind the barbaric shooting and burning of passengers in a bus in Sokoto last week.

“Currently, he is believed to be somewhere in the Eastern part of Sokoto.

“He was the one who challenged the government sometime in August 2021 demanding the release of his father or else about 150 people kidnapped around Shinkafi would be slaughtered.

“More than 500 people have been killed by bandits under the leadership of Bello Turji within the last six months between Isa, Sabon Birni, Rabah and Goronyo local governments.

“Hundreds of bandits take their inspiration from him. The Nigerian military needs to find this dangerous man. Nail him and bandits in Sokoto and Zamfara zone will be in disarray. A commando style operation may become necessary in order to neutralise Bello Turji. But he must be found at all cost, dead or alive,” Akintola said.