Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has come out swinging, denying explosive allegations that he pocketed millions of naira and flashy vehicles from the Zamfara State Government as part of so-called “peace negotiations.” Turji, one of the most wanted men in Nigeria’s North-West, made his bold claims in a video that’s making the rounds online, leaving Nigerians divided and demanding answers.

The controversy erupted after Musa Kamarawa, a former government-appointed peace mediator, dropped a bombshell: he alleged that Turji was handed a staggering N30 million and a fleet of vehicles during secret meetings with ex-Zamfara governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle,now the Minister of State for Defence. According to Kamarawa, these hush-hush deals went down at the Government House in Gusau, raising serious questions about what really goes on behind closed doors in the name of “peace.”

But Turji isn’t having any of it. In his video, he flatly denied ever receiving such riches, insisting, “By Allah, since I was born, I have never possessed even N5 million. What I am doing is not for personal gain. We were never given the N30 million you are talking about.” He even scoffed at the idea of getting N3 million, calling Kamarawa’s claims “false and mischievous testimony.”

Turji didn’t stop there. He accused Kamarawa of betraying the trust of the peace process, slamming the allegations as “lies and deceit.” According to Turji, the government’s chosen mediator has now turned on him, throwing the entire negotiation process into question. Who’s telling the truth,and who’s playing games with the lives of ordinary Nigerians?

Trying to clean up his image, Turji also distanced himself from any political puppeteering, declaring, “We are not politicians, and we are not tools of politicians. There is no human being backing us.” But with rumors swirling about powerful backers and secret deals, many are left wondering: is Turji really acting alone, or is he just the tip of the iceberg?

This latest scandal has reignited fierce debate over the government’s controversial strategy of negotiating with armed criminals. Critics say handing out cash and cars to bandit leaders only encourages more violence and lawlessness, while some local voices argue that dialogue is the only way to stop the bloodshed,at least for now. But with so much secrecy and finger-pointing, can anyone really trust the process?

Despite his denials, Turji remains a shadowy and dangerous figure, accused by security agencies of masterminding countless attacks, kidnappings, and killings across Zamfara and beyond. His group is blamed for some of the region’s deadliest atrocities, targeting both civilians and security forces with impunity.