A feared bandit leader, Bello Turji, has reportedly freed more than 100 people in what appears to be a fresh peace initiative aimed at restoring calm to Zamfara State and parts of the North West after years of violence and mass abductions.
The freed hostages, including men, women, and children, had been held for months in various forest hideouts controlled by Turji. Their release followed ongoing peace talks led by local community heads, clerics, and traditional rulers in collaboration with the North West Operation Safe Corridor programme.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed the development in a social media post, explaining that the victims were freed through sustained negotiations involving trusted local mediators. After regaining freedom, the captives were handed over to local officials, who arranged medical examinations and counselling sessions before reuniting them with their families.
A source involved in the discussions disclosed that the gesture was part of a wider peace deal with Turji’s faction, under which he agreed to halt attacks and cooperate in reconciliation efforts across Zamfara and nearby states. The source said 36 hostages were initially released, followed by 8 more, before additional groups brought the total to over 100.
Negotiators expect further releases as the dialogue continues. Meanwhile, security agencies are closely monitoring the process to verify Turji’s commitment and prevent the talks from being exploited by armed groups to reorganise or acquire new weapons.
Turji has for years been one of the most wanted figures in northern Nigeria, blamed for mass kidnappings, deadly raids on villages, and ambushes along key highways.
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