I watched as six of my siblings were killed – Turji justifies cause

A notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, has recounted some attacks on his family, saying that over 1,000 cattle were stolen from their household and in the process six of his younger siblings were killed that day.

Turji also accused Yan Sakai volunteers of connivance with security agents to harass and extort the Fulanis.

He made this revelation in an interview with Trust TV as part of a documentary, tagged ‘Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story’.

Turji said, “Over 1,000 cattle were taken away from us. On that day, six of our little siblings were killed. Our parents went through all the courts, but they couldn’t get back their cattle. They also connived with Yan Sakai and slaughtered my uncle. Where then does a commoner seek redress?”

Speaking further of Yan Sakai volunteers whom he said were conniving with security agents to harass and extort the Fulanis, Turji added, “They arrest innocent people and lock them up, and if you ask, they say it is because of corn stalks. You will be fined N500,000, and you must pay, for fear of incarceration.

“I will swear with the Qur’an that the Emir of Shinkafi knows about this. My father was involved in a court case for seven years over corn stalks. Just for corn stalks!”