Published 6th Jan, 2022

By Yakubu Mohammed

There are fresh revelations that a yet-to-be-identified Islamic cleric in Fakai village, Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, aided Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader, and his gang in unleashing terror in the state.

In a video obtained by FIJ, one of the captives recently released from Turji’s camp can be seen saying the Imam of Fakai village participated in ransom delivery and also controlled an Islamic school opened by the terrorist.

The ongoing military raids on various bandit camps in Zamfara reportedly destroyed the Islamic school where the imam was teaching. “The airstrike hit Turji’s school, killing one,” the ex-captive says.

“When people came to pay ransoms in millions, it was the Imam of Fakai that would look for ‘Buzu Commissioner’ to deliver it. He would locate Buzu commissioner, and at the end, he would be given either N100,000 or N200,000.”

FIJ found that ‘Buzu Commissioner’ is Turji’s deputy. They had in the past rained mayhem in Sokoto, Niger and Kaduna State before advancing to Zamfara, where they are facing hardship now.

In the video, the released captive, reliving his experience in a forest where he and other captives were held, said bandits are scared of military airstrikes.

“Anytime the jet arrived, the bandits would run into the bush, leaving us untied,” he said.

He also said the terrorists lamented military raids on their hideouts.

When contacted, Mohammed Shehu, the Zamfara Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said he would get back to FIJ’s reporter.

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