Some residents of Fakai in the Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have appealed to the government and military authorities to stop the airstrike bombardments against terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji.
The residents expressed that though they are not in support of banditry, the camp of the terrorists has been upholding their end of the bargain in protecting them since they’ve been paying their dues.
They expressed worries that with the ongoing bombardment by the military, the terrorists may turn against them and unsettle the relative peaceful arrangement they’ve been enjoying.
According to them, it is better to allow sleeping dogs lie.
Military Onslaught Against Turji
Naija News reports the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Monday launched a fresh attack on the enclave of notorious Zamfara bandit terrorist kingpin, Bello Turji.
Earlier, a fighter jet of the NAF on Saturday bombed the hideouts of Turji located at Fakai in Shinkafi Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
Bombings Not Necessary
The Zamfara community residents have however appealed for a cease-fire out of fear that they may be the ones that will eventually be at the receiving end.
They stressed that Turji has been protecting them from other terrorists but they face an uncertain future with the military attacks.
“Actuality we are not comfortable with the attack on Turji’s camps because we have been enjoining a relative peace since he entered into dialogue with the state government,” a source in the community told Daily Post.
The source added that “The government should also realize that we are at the receiving end and should not do anything that will hurt us”
” We are not supporting banditry activities but we are trying to protect ourselves from banditry activities”
We Are Not Complaining
The residents said they have an agreement with the bandits and they’ve been able to go about normal activities based on the agreement.
“We are appealing to Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle to leave Bello Turji alone since we are no longer complaining about terror attacks.
“We are now relaxing, doing our farming perfectly as normal because Turji did not instruct his boys to attack anybody either in the farms or at home.
”They live within us and they have never harassed anyone of us because we are hiding under their umbrella for protection from other bandits.
“We always give them whatever they want to allow us do our legitimate farming activities in the area.”
Turji Accuses Govt Of Betrayal
Notorious bandits’ kingpin terrorizing Zamfara State, Bello Turji, has accused the Nigerian military of betraying a peace agreement they struck with him.
Naija News reports that this was following the aerial bombardment of his residence by military fighter jets.
The banditry warlord accused the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government of breaking the peace pact they had with him in stopping banditry, by protecting the people of Shinkafi axis from any attack.
Speaking on phone with some of his acquaintances, Bello Turji expressed his bitterness over the air raid on his abode and the killing of vulnerable people.
In an audio conversation obtained by PRNigeria, Bello Turji said he agreed with officials of the government and community leaders to abandon banditry.
This article was originally published on Naija News
