A coalition representing families shattered by years of banditry in Northwest Nigeria has made a direct and urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The group is demanding a full-scale investigation into explosive allegations made by notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, which implicate two former state governors in the roots of the region's security crisis.
An Urgent Plea from the Heart of the Crisis
The Coalition of Families Affected by Banditry, speaking for countless victims who have endured killings, kidnappings, and the destruction of their homes, has written formally to the President. Their letter, driven by what they describe as a profound sense of urgency and responsibility, calls for action on claims that have sent shockwaves through the region.
Chairperson Otuba Rawene voiced the collective trauma: "Many of us have lost loved ones in brutal killings, seen family members abducted, or been forced to flee our homes, leaving behind livelihoods and communities destroyed by violence." The coalition insists that the serious nature of the allegations warrants a response from the highest office, despite the source.
Turji's Allegations and the Demand for Scrutiny
The catalyst for the appeal is a video released in December 2025, in which the wanted bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, pointed fingers at former political leaders. Turji specifically accused former Zamfara Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima and former Sokoto Governor Attahiru Bafarawa of policies that he claims ignited the current cycle of violence.
According to Turji's claims, actions such as the seizure and sale of grazing reserves and the arming of local vigilante groups against Fulani communities fueled deep ethnic tensions. These tensions, he alleged, spiraled into reprisal attacks and eventually the widespread banditry plaguing the region today.
The families' letter acknowledges Turji's criminality but argues for impartial scrutiny, stating: "While we acknowledge that Bello Turji is a wanted criminal... we believe these allegations warrant serious and impartial scrutiny. As the proverb goes, 'where there is smoke, there is fire.'"
Two Clear Demands for Justice and Accountability
Backing their plea with grim statistics, the coalition highlighted the devastating human cost. They noted that at least 4,900 people were killed between 2018 and 2020, with a staggering over 2,266 lives lost in just the first half of 2025. Thousands have been abducted, with ransoms amounting to billions of naira.
Against this backdrop of suffering, the coalition presented President Tinubu with two specific demands:
- To immediately launch an independent and thorough investigation into the allegations made by Bello Turji. They suggested this probe could benefit from international or technical oversight to ensure its credibility and transparency.
- To advocate for and implement broader measures to dismantle the culture of impunity. This includes ensuring that anyone found complicit, regardless of their status or position, faces appropriate sanctions.
Haj. Hadijat Abdullahi, the group's Public Relations Officer, emphasized the critical need for accountability: "Accountability for those who may have contributed to this crisis is essential to breaking the cycle of violence and restoring peace. We implore the Nigerian government to act decisively and transparently."
The ball is now in the court of the Tinubu administration. The heartfelt letter from these traumatized families presents a direct challenge: to look beyond the messenger and examine the message, in a bid to finally address the foundational issues behind one of Nigeria's most persistent security nightmares.
