"A look at the intervention of Tinubu's administration in preventing the seizure of Bello Turji by the CJTF"
In the troubled northwestern region of Nigeria, where terrorist attacks by a group known as bandits have been a persistent issue, a controversy has arisen over the capture of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
According to security expert Sani Shinkafi, the Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government interfered and thwarted the capture of Bello Turji by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Zamfara State [5][4]. Shinkafi alleged that the government prevented the CJTF from successfully capturing Turji, who has been terrorizing states such as Zamfara and Sokoto [5][4].
However, recent reports show a different phase in this story. Bello Turji later surrendered arms and released 32 kidnapped hostages in peace talks led by Islamic clerics in Zamfara [1][2][3]. This development comes after Sani Shinkafi publicly alleged government obstruction around early August 2025.
The CJTF, who have been struggling to defeat bandits in Zamfara due to lack of operational support, had made significant progress against Bello Turji and his lieutenants, according to Shinkafi [6]. During an operation, CJTF and CPG operatives were close to capturing Turji and killing many of his foot soldiers. However, the military and other security agencies did not provide operational support during this operation [6].
The Zamfara State Government recruited hundreds of persons into the CJTF to combat banditry. Despite this, the terrain to the bandits' hideout is not motorable, and the CJTF operatives are not indigenes of the state, which could have contributed to the lack of support [7].
Usman Zakari, a media aide to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was contacted by Premium Times but did not respond. Similarly, Bayo Onanuga, the spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, was contacted for comments but did not respond [8]. The federal government, despite the allegations, intended to use dialogue to settle with Bello Turji, despite his past actions [9].
As the investigation into the incident with Bello Turji continues by the Nigerian government, the controversy surrounding the alleged government interference in his capture remains a topic of discussion among security experts and the general public.
- Despite the controversy over the Nigerian government's alleged interference in the capture of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, Turji later surrendered arms and released 32 kidnapped hostages in peace talks.
- The CJTF, recruited to combat banditry in Zamfara, have been struggling due to lack of operational support, as alleged by security expert Sani Shinkafi.
- Bello Turji has been terrorizing states like Zamfara and Sokoto, but his capture by the CJTF was prevented, according to Sani Shinkafi.
- The general news and crime-and-justice sectors have been abuzz with discussions about the controversy surrounding the alleged government interference in the capture of Bello Turji.
- The APC-led government, under the leadership of Bola Tinubu, has been accused of preventing the CJTF from successfully capturing Bello Turji, as alleged by Sani Shinkafi.
- The EFCC and the presidency have yet to give comments on the allegations of government obstruction around Bello Turji's capture, leaving the war-and-conflicts and politics sectors in suspense.
