CurrentReport Blog In a new development, notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has confirmed the imposition of a N50 million tax on the residents of Moriki town in Zamfara State. The bandit made this revelation in his latest video, explaining that the tax followed the killing of his cattle by security agencies in the area.
Turji, notorious for leading violent operations across Northern Nigeria, refuted claims by security analyst Bulama Bukarti, who previously reported that the bandit leader had imposed a N30 million levy on Moriki residents. Turji criticized Bukarti for failing to provide the full story, emphasizing that his cattle were unjustly killed, which led to the imposition of the fine.
In the video, Turji said:
“My name is Bello Turji. I heard of someone named Bulama Bukarti, who made statements alleging that Turji imposed taxes on the people of Moriki. All that he said is true. However, he mentioned only one reason—that they chased our cattle. That’s not the full story.”
Turji accused Bukarti of presenting a biased narrative and warned that the imposed tax on the town is N50 million, not N30 million as previously reported. He further called out the actions of the security forces, accusing them of slaughtering his cattle during a peaceful grazing period.
He went on to claim that these killings were overlooked by the media and security analysts, sparking further resentment.
Bello Turji has been in the spotlight for his numerous violent activities, including the alleged seizure of military vehicles during a recent operation. However, the Nigerian military refuted this claim, stating that the Mine Resistant vehicles were disabled due to weather conditions and terrain, not by Turji’s group.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, has vowed that Turji’s days are numbered, promising the bandit leader will soon be apprehended. In a separate video released a week ago, Turji blamed the Hausa people for the killing of Fulani tribesmen and warned of dire consequences if the killings continue.
