The Zamfara State Government said the notorious leader of gangs of bandits in North-West Nigeria, Muhammad Bello, aka Bello Turji embraced its peace initiative.
Nigerians across the northern region have rejected moves by the Zamfara State government to absolve terror kingpin, Bello Turji, of violent crimes against humanity.
The Zamfara State government had on Sunday in a statement noted that the notorious bandits’ leader had repented and embraced peace after years of kidnapping, rape, stealing and killing innocent citizens.
SaharaReporters had reported on August 21, 2022 that the Zamfara State Government said the notorious leader of gangs of bandits in North-West Nigeria, Muhammad Bello, aka Bello Turji embraced its peace initiative.
The Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Hassan Nasiha, disclosed this during a conference on security in Gusau, the state capital organised by the Students Union of Medina University.
Nasiha had commended Turji for deciding to shun banditry, saying his action was bringing about relative peace in Birnin Magaji, Shinkafi and Zurmi local government areas of the state.
However, many Nigerians took to their various social media platforms to condemn the statement.
Several such citizens wonder how a man who had been on the wanted list of the police for committing grievous terror acts against the country for years would receive such commendation.
Turji is being accused by the police for violent crimes in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and other states in the Northwest of the country.
Meanwhile, Nigerians on Facebook and Twitter warned against any plans to grant amnesty to the terrorist.
@kabirMukhtar91 said, "I cannot understand why the government of Zamfara State is bothering us with the issue of Bello Turji; every time the security forces take action to end banditry in the state, he shows up to say he has embrace peace or repented."
@ChNdozieNGR said, "We've heard stories like this before. Gunmen don't repent. Peace deal with gunmen has never worked, and will never work."
@Abou_Sidra_ said "There are questions that the Zamfara government needs to answer on the peace agreement it signed with the bandit leader Bello Turji. Who gave him the license and weapons to kill the other bandits. Who is paying the compensation?"
@rotimiinlagos said, "Repentance? What kind of repentance? Where is the question of justice for those he killed, and the disaster he caused? Did he pay for his destructions? Is there any money he returned? Repentance?! Discard the dummy!!!
@AdamsUsaubu said, "It's a lie. He will go back to his job as a gunman."
@zaheedayoola said, "Don't believe the liar. Send him to his creator to judge him.”