A member of the Sokoto State State House of Assembly, Aminu Boza has accused notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji of imposing a ₦25 million levy on villages in the eastern part of the state.
The lawmaker is a member representing Sabon Birnin Gobir in the state legislative house.
According to security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, Boza made the accusation while speaking to journalists on Tuesday.
The lawmaker, who raised the alarm over Turji’s presence in the Isa and Sabon Birni areas said, “Bello Turji is currently in the Isa and Sabon Birni axis of Sokoto. He has even imposed a ₦25 million levy per village in some communities.”
Turji’s sudden reappearance after months of hiding from the intense security forces attack on him which has depleted his camp after killing his to henchmen, has left the people saddened and afraid.
The lawmaker urged security agencies and local authorities to take swift action to combat banditry in the region.
This development is contradictory to a recent statement by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, who revealed that Turji has expressed a willingness to surrender.
During a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, General Musa disclosed that sustained military operations have significantly weakened Turji’s network. The elimination of his second-in-command and several of his top lieutenants has reportedly left the terrorist leader with limited options.
“He is now forced to release most of the people under him,” General Musa said. “Recently, he has begun to say he doesn’t want anything; he is ready to surrender.”
However, the Defence Chief emphasised that surrendering would not absolve Turji of accountability for his crimes.
“We want to take everybody out. Anybody who has killed should go. People like him should not be allowed to stay,” Musa asserted, reaffirming the military’s commitment to justice and peace in affected regions.
Turji remains one of Nigeria’s most wanted terror leaders, known for orchestrating attacks, kidnappings, and killings across the northwest region.
