Notorious bandit Bello Turji has launched a fierce attack against former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, and Sokoto-based cleric, Murtala Asada, in a newly surfaced video.
In the video, as reported by Premium Times, Turji criticizes Asada, who has consistently condemned the bandit’s actions and blamed the government for failing to take strong measures against him. Asada’s sermons have frequently called for intensified efforts to curb Turji’s criminal activities.
In a bold statement, Turji challenged Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa to offer Asada a military role. “Our blessed leader, Christopher Musa, we are calling on you with a loud voice, please, give Murtala Asada a position even though it is the commander of vigilantes. Let him join, please. He is desperately looking for positions,” Turji declared.
The call for Asada’s appointment comes amid ongoing tensions between Turji and his critics. Last Tuesday, Musa stated that the military would soon apprehend Turji alive.
Turji also lashed out at Pantami, saying, “I have a video clip of him saying anyone in the government is a non-believer (Kufaar) and ever since he was given ministerial position… he has become one.”
Pantami’s past views have been controversial. In 2021, some Nigerians called for his resignation from then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet due to his earlier radical Islamist statements. The presidency defended Pantami, stating that his views had evolved over time.
Reports from the BBC highlighted that Pantami, in his earlier sermons, praised al-Qaeda figures and expressed controversial opinions on conflicts involving Muslims. However, the presidency argued that Pantami’s views had changed as he matured.
Turji, notorious for violent attacks in the Northwest, including killings, kidnappings, and livestock rustling, recently seized an armored vehicle abandoned by the military in Zamfara State. His group has committed various atrocities, including the burning of passengers alive in 2021 and a deadly attack on a market in Sokoto that left over 60 dead.
Turji’s recent video escalates his ongoing confrontation with Nigerian authorities and his critics, fueling further tensions in the region.
