The residents of Moriki town, located in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have successfully persuaded the bandit leader, Bello Turji, to lower the ransom he set from ₦50 million to ₦30 million, with a payment deadline established for Wednesday.
It was gathered that the said amount is purportedly intended as compensation for the death of Turji’s cattle, which were killed by the new commander of the Army base situated in Moriki.
Each head of a household is expected to contribute ₦10,000, while unmarried individuals are required to pay ₦2,000.
Furthermore, it has been reported that the villagers are proceeding with the payment despite the commander’s counsel against it and his assurance that he would not harm Turji’s livestock again.
The villagers, as reported by Daily Post, are apprehensive that failing to comply with the demand may result in Turji escalating his violent actions against them, leaving them vulnerable to his aggression.
Additionally, it was reported that approximately fifteen local politicians and social activists remain in Turji’s captivity, having been abducted from within Moriki, despite the presence of military personnel in the area.
Meanwhile, a recently circulated video shows three Nigerian soldiers boldly challenging a notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, who is responsible for numerous violent attacks across northern Nigeria.
The soldiers expressed their frustration at the lack of orders from higher authorities to pursue Turji and instead issued a direct challenge, urging him to leave his hiding place and confront them.
In the video, which was primarily spoken in Hausa, one of the soldiers stated, “Since they have refused to order us to come for you, come out from your hideout and let’s face each other and see what happens.”
The soldiers further taunted Turji, questioning his bravery: “Bello Turji, if you think you’re truly a man and the son of your mother, come out and face us.”
They condemned Turji’s actions, pleading with him to stop harming civilians: “For Allah’s sake, stop kidnapping and killing civilians; they are innocent.”
The soldiers highlighted their past successes in combat, recalling their experience in defeating Boko Haram in Maiduguri, Borno State: “Before now, we didn’t know what a soldier or a gun was, and we eliminated Boko Haram. Now that we are soldiers and know how to use guns, Bello Turji, you are mad.”
