A coalition of women from northern Nigeria, under the North-West Women Development Forum (NWDF), issued a strong call on December 13, 2025, for infamous bandit kingpin Bello Turji to lay down arms and embrace peace following the recent neutralization of his top commanders, including Buzu and others. The group highlighted the escalating military pressure and mounting losses in Turji's network, urging him to end the cycle of violence plaguing Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger states.
Bello Turji, a notorious figure since the early 2020s, commands operations responsible for massacres, kidnappings, and rural terror, including the 2022 Zamfara killings that claimed nearly 200 lives. Recent army successes, such as the elimination of lieutenant Kachalla Kallamu in Sokoto just days prior, signal a tightening noose around his faction, with officials labeling him a "dead man walking." NWDF leaders decried the human cost, noting displaced families and economic ruin from banditry, and warned that continued defiance invites inevitable downfall.
The plea reflects broader fatigue among northern communities, where vigilantes and troops collaborate amid federal offensives targeting bandit enclaves. Turji's past claims of Fulani grievances and alleged ties to politicians have fueled his notoriety, but recent defeats underscore shifting dynamics. Rights advocates support the women's initiative, viewing it as grassroots pressure complementing security gains for lasting stability.