Notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji has reportedly released over 100 captives in Zamfara State, marking what security officials describe as a major breakthrough in the renewed peace initiative under the North West Operation Safe Corridor programme.
Security and community sources confirmed to counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama that the release followed weeks of dialogue and confidence-building measures led by local mediators and traditional leaders.
The freed victims — including men, women, and children — were handed over to local authorities and subsequently taken to a hospital for medical screening and trauma evaluation before being reunited with their families.
“The release was part of an agreement reached with Turji’s camp to embrace peace and end attacks in affected areas,” one source involved in the negotiations disclosed.
According to the source, 36 captives were initially released, followed by eight others, before the final group of detainees regained their freedom — bringing the total number to over 100.
Officials familiar with the development said further releases may follow as talks continue between Turji’s group and peace mediators.
Security agencies, however, cautioned that while the move signals progress, surveillance operations are ongoing to ensure that the peace process is not exploited by criminal networks to regroup or rearm.
Bello Turji, one of the most feared bandit leaders in Nigeria’s northwest, has long been accused of masterminding mass kidnappings, killings, and extortion across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina States.
His reported willingness to participate in peace negotiations has sparked cautious optimism among residents, even as authorities weigh the delicate balance between reconciliation and justice in the troubled region.
