In a letter submitted in Abuja, the families said they had lost relatives, homes and livelihoods to sustained attacks by armed bandits and criminal gangs operating across Zamfara, Sokoto and neighbouring states.
A coalition of families devastated by years of deadly banditry in Northwest Nigeria has written to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to investigate grave allegations linking two former governors to the roots of the region’s insecurity.
The group, operating under the banner of the Coalition of Families Affected by Banditry, said it was compelled to directly appeal to the President after what it described as repeated domestic inaction despite the scale of violence that has torn their communities apart.
In a letter submitted in Abuja, the families said they had lost relatives, homes and livelihoods to sustained attacks by armed bandits and criminal gangs operating across Zamfara, Sokoto and neighbouring states.
Exhausted by years of bloodshed, the coalition called on Tinubu to help uncover the truth behind claims that policies implemented during the administrations of former Zamfara State Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima and former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa laid the foundation for the current security crisis.
The letter, signed by Chairperson Otuba Rawene, Secretary Sani Usman, Public Relations Officer Haj. Hadijat Abdullahi and 20 others, read in part: “Many of us have lost loved ones in brutal killings, seen family members abducted, or been forced to flee our homes, leaving behind livelihoods and communities destroyed by violence.”
The families said they were prompted by recent claims made by notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, who reportedly accused the two former governors of actions that fuelled ethnic tensions and reprisals in the region.
“We write to Your Excellency with a profound sense of urgency and responsibility, seeking your support in addressing grave allegations recently made public by notorious bandit leader Bello Turji,” the letter stated.
The group noted that in a “widely circulated video released in December 2025, Turji accused former Zamfara State Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima and former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa of laying the foundations for the current insecurity crisis.”
The coalition said Turji specifically alleged that policies under the former governors, “including the seizure and sale of grazing reserves and the arming of vigilante groups that targeted Fulani communities ignited ethnic tensions and cycles of reprisal violence that evolved into today’s widespread banditry.”
While acknowledging Turji’s criminal history, the families insisted that his claims deserved impartial investigation.
“While we acknowledge that Bello Turji is a wanted criminal responsible for countless atrocities, including the deaths of many of our relatives, we believe these allegations warrant serious and impartial scrutiny,” the letter said.
The group said, “As the proverb goes, ‘where there is smoke, there is fire.’ Having exhausted domestic avenues for justice often met with inaction or allegations being dismissed, we turn to the President, a steadfast champion of human rights and accountability, as our last hope for uncovering the truth and ensuring justice prevails.”
The coalition also drew attention to the massive human and economic toll of banditry in the Northwest region, describing the scale of suffering as “staggering.”
“The scale of suffering caused by banditry in Northwest Nigeria is staggering and demands international attention,” they said.
Citing available data, the families noted that thousands of civilians had been killed, displaced or abducted over the years.
“Reliable reports indicate thousands of civilian deaths, mass displacements, and profound economic devastation. For instance, between 2018 and 2020 alone, armed banditry caused at least 4,900 deaths,” the letter stated.
They added that “in the first half of 2025, over 2,266 people were killed by insurgents and bandits, surpassing the total for all of 2024,” while thousands were abducted annually, with “verified ransom payments reaching billions of naira (e.g., N2.57 billion between July 2024 and June 2025).”
According to the group, these attacks have “displaced hundreds of thousands, disrupted agriculture and trade, deepened poverty, and inflicted lasting trauma on survivors,” with communities now living “in constant fear, with bandits imposing illegal levies and operating with impunity.”
The families urged the Federal Government to act decisively.
“As victims seeking justice and an end to this cycle of violence, we implore the Nigerian government to publicly launch a prompt, independent, and thorough investigation into Bello Turji’s allegations against the named former governors,” they said.
They also called for “technical assistance or international oversight to ensure the probe is credible and free from political interference,” adding that broader measures were needed to address impunity.
“Advocate for broader measures to address impunity, including sanctions if evidence of complicity in serious crimes emerges. We firmly believe that accountability for those who may have contributed to this crisis, regardless of their status, is essential to breaking the cycle of violence and restoring peace,” the letter concluded.