“I am ready for either peace or war. Whatever the government wants, we can give them a multitude.”
This is the boast of a notorious Zamfara bandits’ kingpin, Bello Turji, who reportedly expressed his bitterness over the air raid on his abode and the killing of vulnerable people by the soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
Information reaching us in Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that the top bandits’ commander accused the Nigerian government of breaking the peace pact it had with him in stopping banditry, by protecting the people of Shinkafi axis from any attack.
In an audio conversation, Turji was believed to have said: “Peace is priceless and I am ready to be a peace advocate unless the government wants him to be a warmonger.”
The bandit leader said he had agreed with officials of the government and community leaders to abandon banditry.
“There have not been any attacks in the last five months since we reached a truce with the government but now that the military has attacked our home, we feel betrayed especially after the death of vulnerable people in the airstrikes.
“For the past five months, we didn’t attack or kill anyone around Shinkafi. As a result, farming and other business activities were flourishing without any hitches.
“I feel embarrassed when my name is mentioned after attacks by other bandits and terrorists.
“Apart from my house that they destroyed, many other buildings belonging to innocent citizens in the forest were also affected.”
It was earlier reported that scores of armed bandits belonging to Bello Turji camp were eliminated during a ‘surprise raid’ by the air troops of Operation Forest Sanity in Zamfara State.
The ‘surprise attack’ was carried out by two Nigerian Air Force, NAF, fighter jets, upon receiving credible intelligence at Fakai area of Shinkafi.
After the attack, the military dropped leaflets and aired jingles warning citizens living in banditry-prone areas in an effort to avoid collateral damages in the renewed military operations.
Meanwhile, terrorists suspected to be armed bandits, today, September 24, killed 11 Muslim worshippers, members of Ruwan Jema village in Zamfara State
Credible local sources in Zamfara said that a group of terrorists in a convoy of motorcycles stormed the community, Ruwan Jema, during Friday Prayer in the mosque.
A survivor, Aliyu Nanarki said: “those killed by the bandits were among those observing their Friday prayer in the mosque.”
It was gathered that 11 corpses were recovered after the raid by the terrorists, even as several persons are still missing, since yesterday.
Source: PRNigeria.
