In what appears to be a breakthrough in Northern peace initiatives, dreaded Zamfara terror kingpin, Bello Turji, has reportedly surrendered part of his ammunition and released about 32 kidnapped captives, a deal brokered by popular Kaduna Islamic cleric, Sheikh Musa Yusuf Assadus Sunnah.

This is even as the cleric has countered claims by the military that its operatives killed a dreaded Zamfara terrorist group leader, Dan Bokolo during an operation in the Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State in June.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had, in a statement, confirmed the elimination of terror kingpin, ‘Yellow Dan Bokolo,’ by troops of Operation FASAN YAMA, in conjunction with hybrid forces supported by air components and other security agencies in Zamfara State.

The statement said Dan Bokolo died from injuries sustained during an encounter with security forces, where several other terrorists were also killed.

Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said in the statement that a combined team of security forces conducted an intelligence-led operation during which they engaged bandits and fleeing terrorists.

Maj.-Gen. Kangye explained that during the encounter, a notorious terrorist kingpin known as Yellow Dan Bokolo, who for years has devastated residents of Eastern Sokoto, suffered serious gunshot wounds.

“He subsequently died yesterday (Monday) from the injuries sustained during the fierce battle with our troops. It is believed that Yellow Dan Bokolo was much more dreaded than Bello Turji, as he masterminded the December 2021 arson on travellers in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, during which all the passengers were burnt to death,” he said.

The reported killing was greeted with wide celebration by residents of Shinkafi Local Government Area, who have repeatedly suffered at the hands of terror groups.

But the Kaduna cleric revealed during a sermon that the news of Dan Bokolo’s death was not true, saying the dreaded terrorist is still alive in the Fakai forest in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state.

He, however, said there has been a major breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to restore peace in Zamfara State, claiming that a notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has surrendered a cache of arms and released 32 kidnapped victims following a series of peace dialogues with Islamic clerics.

Sheikh Musa Yusuf Assadus Sunnah revealed that he and a group of Islamic scholars had brokered a peace deal with the terrorist leaders and engaged Turji and his associates in direct talks deep within the Fakai forest in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the state, following a plea by residents of the local government.

According to him, “It was not an easy trip. We had to cross a river without a canoe and travelled a long distance deep inside the forest on bikes before we reached Turji’s enclave.

“The meetings were held on three separate occasions in July and were facilitated at the request of the residents of Shinkafi, who have been under the siege of armed bandits for years.

“We met Bello Turji, Dan Bokolo, Black and Kanawa, and Malam Ila. Contrary to speculations, Dan Bokolo is alive and was present during the meetings.

“In three phases, they surrendered some arms to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process. They also agreed to allow farmers from Shinkafi to access their farmlands across the river leading to Turji’s enclave,” Sheikh Yusuf said.

He revealed further that the terrorists agreed to release about 32 kidnapped victims, who were mostly women and children, as part of the initial peace gestures.

“Some of the victims had spent over four months in captivity, with reports of women giving birth in the bush and others suffering from ailments such as snake bites.”

Videos of the released captives and the difficult terrain navigated by the clerics to reach Turji’s camp were shown to worshippers by Sheikh Yusuf during his sermon in a Kaduna Mosque.

He said the peace accord also stipulates that Fulani residents be allowed to return to town without fear of being profiled or harmed by vigilantes.

“We are engaging Turji gradually towards total peace. It would be unwise to ask him to surrender all his weapons now, as that could expose him to other armed groups who may not be part of the peace talks,” he explained.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, and Senator Shehu Buba for backing non-kinetic approaches in tackling insecurity in the region.

It would be recalled that Bello Turji has made several reported attempts to seek reconciliation, following the heated and continuous military attacks in the area that have targeted him and his group.