Bello Turji

{{Infobox military person

| name = Bello Turji Kachalla

| image = Turji.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = Bello Usmana

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1994}}

| birth_place = Shinkafi, Zamfara State, Nigeria

| death_date =

| death_place =

| allegiance = Banditry

| branch =

| serviceyears = 2011 to date

| rank = Terrorist, Bandit leader

| battles = Nigerian bandit conflict

}}

Bello Turji Kachalla {{Pronunciation|Ha-Bello Turji Kachalla.ogg|listen|(|help=no}} popularly known as Turji, (born 1994) is a notorious Nigerian terrorist and bandit leader operating in North-western Nigeria, particularly Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger states. In 2022, a bandit gang led by Turji carried out a series of massacres in Zamfara, resulting in the deaths of nearly 200 innocent people, including women and children.{{Cite web|title=At least 200 dead in bandit attacks in northwest Nigeria|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/9/about-200-dead-in-bandit-attacks-in-northwest-nigeria-residents|url-status=live|access-date=9 January 2022|website=Al Jazeera|archive-date=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109222824/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/9/about-200-dead-in-bandit-attacks-in-northwest-nigeria-residents}}{{Cite web|date=10 January 2022|title=Endless massacres by Islamists in Nigeria: Boko, ISIS, Turji loyalists, Fulani, and others {{!}} Modern Tokyo Times|url=http://moderntokyotimes.com/endless-massacres-by-islamists-in-nigeria-boko-isis-turji-loyalists-fulani-and-others/|access-date=10 January 2022|archive-date=10 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110034907/http://moderntokyotimes.com/endless-massacres-by-islamists-in-nigeria-boko-isis-turji-loyalists-fulani-and-others/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Gabriel|first=John|date=9 January 2022|title=Zamfara killings: You'll never know peace – University don curses bandits, sponsors|url=https://dailypost.ng/2022/01/09/zamfara-killings-youll-never-know-peace-university-don-curses-bandits-sponsors/|access-date=10 January 2022|website=Daily Post Nigeria|archive-date=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109223034/https://dailypost.ng/2022/01/09/zamfara-killings-youll-never-know-peace-university-don-curses-bandits-sponsors/|url-status=live}}

Early life

Turji was born in Shinkafi local government of Zamfara State, Northern Nigeria.{{cite news |last=Babangida |first=Mohammed |date=3 January 2022 |title=Amidst military offensive, notorious bandit Turji releases 52 kidnap victims |publisher=premiumtimesng.com |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/503875-amidst-military-offensive-notorious-bandit-turji-releases-52-kidnap-victims.html |access-date=18 April 2022}}{{cite news |date=19 December 2021 |title=Nigerian Military Raids Turji's Hideout, Kills Scores of Bandits in Zamfara, Sokoto Forests |publisher=prnigeria.com |url=https://prnigeria.com/2021/12/19/military-raids-turji-hideout/ |access-date=18 April 2022}} Turji was raised as a Fulani cattle herder without education. Turji claims that some of his family's cattle were stolen by a pro-security forces vigilante group called the Ƴan Sakai who also murdered six of Turji's siblings. Turji also claims his father tried to sue the Emir of Zurmi (to whom the stolen cattle were given) but his efforts failed, and that the Yan Sakai killed his uncle. Turji told the Daily Trust in an interview that this had prompted him to take up arms.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-06 |title=How I joined banditry and why I want to quit – Bello Turji |url=https://dailytrust.com/how-i-joined-banditry-and-why-i-want-to-quit-bello-turji |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Daily Trust |language=en}}

Career

Bello Turji is known to have been responsible for numerous massacres and terrorist attacks against civilians and security forces in the North West region of the country, especially Zamfara and Sokoto states.{{Cite web |last=editing |date=2021-12-17 |title=Musician Releases 14-Minute Long Song Celebrating Bandit Kingpin, Bello Turji |url=https://saharareporters.com/2021/12/17/musician-releases-14-minute-long-song-celebrating-bandit-kingpin-bello-turji |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Sahara Reporters}}

In September 2021, the Yan Sakai attacked a mosque in Gwadabawa, killing eleven people. Turji responded by leading his bandits towards a market in Goronyo, Sokoto State. The bandits entered the bazaar and opened fire, killing at least 50{{Cite web |date=2021-12-20 |title=Flashback: The Killing 'That Triggered Bello Turji's Attacks in Sokoto' |url=https://www.fij.ng/article/flashback-the-killing-that-triggered-bello-turjis-attacks-in-sokoto/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Foundation For Investigative Journalism |language=en-US}} to over 60 civilians.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-21 |title=Terrorists Become Deadlier In Sokoto Despite Govt's Stringent Measures |url=https://humanglemedia.com/terrorists-become-deadlier-in-sokoto-despite-govts-stringent-measures/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=HumAngle Media |language=en-US}} In December 2021, Turji's forces attacked a bus in Sabon Birni, setting it on fire and burning the passengers inside to death with 30 people dying in the ambush.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-04 |title=Why Notorious Bandit Bello Turji Released 50 Kidnapped Victims — Zamfara Govt |url=https://thewhistler.ng/why-notorious-bandit-bello-turji-released-50-kidnapped-victims-zamfara-govt/amp/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=The Whistler Newspaper |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Hazzad |first=Ardo |date=2021-12-08 |title=Gunmen torch bus, kill 30 passengers in Nigeria's Sokoto state |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/gunmen-torch-bus-kill-30-passengers-nigerias-sokoto-state-2021-12-07/ |access-date=2022-06-12}}

File:Zamfara State Nigeria.png

Turji was the mastermind behind the slaughter of over 200 people in Zamfara state in January 2022.{{Cite web |last=Gabriel |first=John |date=2022-01-09 |title=Zamfara killings: You'll never know peace - University don curses bandits, sponsors |url=https://dailypost.ng/2022/01/09/zamfara-killings-youll-never-know-peace-university-don-curses-bandits-sponsors/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-07 |title=Zamfara Attacks: Over 50 dead bodies found as residents panic over rumour of Turji's relocation |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/504549-zamfara-attacks-over-50-dead-bodies-found-as-residents-panic-over-rumour-of-turjis-relocation.html |access-date=2022-06-06 |language=en-GB}}

He is a rival of another bandit leader named Dogo Giɗe.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-27 |title=Northwestern Nigeria: A Jihadization of Banditry, or a "Banditization" of Jihad? |url=https://ctc.westpoint.edu/northwestern-nigeria-a-jihadization-of-banditry-or-a-banditization-of-jihad/ |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=Combating Terrorism Center at West Point |language=en-US}}

Political views

Turji believes that Fulani people are being subjected to genocide in Nigeria, and has justified his actions as being reprisals against attacks on Fulani bandits and civilians.

Bello Turji believes the security issues in Nigeria have been politicized and that the government is not treating the ethnic groups in the country equally.{{cite web |last1=Daily Trust |title=How I Joined Banditry And Why I Want To Quit – Bello Turji |date=6 March 2022 |url=https://dailytrust.com/how-i-joined-banditry-and-why-i-want-to-quit-bello-turji/ |publisher=Daily Trust}} He stressed that even the media discriminates against the Fulanis and never reports the killing of innocent Fulanis.{{cite web |last1=Daily Trust |title=How I Joined Banditry And Why I Want To Quit – Bello Turji |date=6 March 2022 |url=https://dailytrust.com/how-i-joined-banditry-and-why-i-want-to-quit-bello-turji/ |publisher=Daily Trust}} He claimed that all he wants is peace to reign in the country.{{cite web |last1=Daily Trust |title=How I Joined Banditry And Why I Want To Quit – Bello Turji |date=6 March 2022 |url=https://dailytrust.com/how-i-joined-banditry-and-why-i-want-to-quit-bello-turji/ |publisher=Daily Trust}}{{cite news |last1=Premium |first1=Times |title=Banditry: Experts authenticate Turji's letter, say notorious kingpin troubled, frustrated |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/501640-banditry-experts-authenticate-turjis-letter-say-notorious-kingpin-troubled-frustrated.html?tztc=1 |access-date=October 7, 2023 |date=December 19, 2023}}

Public image

Bello Turji is one of the best-known Nigerian bandits and enjoys a heavy amount of publicity from the media. A Hausa-language song surfaced online depicting a man singing while chanting women in the background describing the bandit as a "hero among heroes."{{Cite web |date=2021-12-16 |title=Musician releases song in praise of bandit kingpin Turji |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/501236-musician-releases-song-in-praise-of-bandit-kingpin-turji.html |access-date=2022-06-12 |language=en-GB}}