Bello Turji, a notorious terrorism kingpin in Zamfara, has released 32 kidnapped persons and agreed to suspend attacks on farmers in the Shinkafi axis of the state.
The development followed a series of peace talks with Islamic clerics who visited his hideout in the Fakai forest.
Musa Yusuf, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric popularly known as Asadus-Sunnah, disclosed the outcome of the meetings on Monday at a religious gathering in Kaduna.
He said the engagements, held three times in July, were initiated by residents of Shinkafi who sought access to their farmlands within the forest.
“We met Mr Turji, Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa and Malam Ila. The speculation that Dan Bakkolo was killed is not true.
“These people are the ones terrorising the axis, and they all agreed to the peace proposals,” he told Premium Times.
Yusuf said part of the agreement required the terrorists to surrender some weapons as a sign of commitment to the peace process.
He added: “They surrendered the arms in three phases at different times.
They also allowed the residents of Shinkafi to access their farms in the forest across the river heading to Mr Turji’s enclaves.
“He (Turji) also released 32 kidnapped captives as part of the peace agreement.”
He showed videos of some released captives and the difficult terrain they crossed to reach Turji’s camp.
Yusuf said the freed persons, including women and children, had spent close to four months in captivity.
He noted that some women gave birth in the forest, while one was bitten by a snake during detention.
He said the Shinkafi area had experienced relative peace since the informal agreement, with locals now cultivating their farms without fear of abduction.
The cleric, however, explained that the group did not ask Turji to surrender all his weapons to avoid making him vulnerable to rival armed groups who may not support the peace process.
Yusuf also criticised other Islamic clerics attacking Turji on social media, warning that such comments could jeopardise the fragile truce.
“While the deal may not end all terrorist attacks in Zamfara, the communities within Mr Turji’s axis are now enjoying peace,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Zamfara governor Dauda Lawal, and Senator Shehu Buba for encouraging non-kinetic approaches to addressing insecurity in the region.
In October, Turji had warned that peace would remain elusive in Zamfara unless security agencies and vigilantes stopped targeting Fulani communities.
“This is why we are calling on all of you to come and collaborate with us for peace to reign and stop the bloodbath in Zamfara,” he said in a video clip.
