A group of Islamic clerics has secured the release of 32 individuals held in captivity by bandits in Zamfara State, following negotiations with Bello Turji and other armed group leaders in the Fakai forest area of Shinkafi Local Government Area.

The talks, which took place in July, were disclosed on Monday in Kaduna by Musa Yusuf, a cleric popularly known as Asadus-Sunnah, during a religious gathering. He said the engagement formed part of a non-kinetic peace initiative aimed at improving security and access to farmland in the region.

Yusuf explained that the discussions involved Turji and other figures, including Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila. He said all those involved agreed to temporary peace terms that include the surrender of some weapons and improved access to farming communities.

“We met Mr Turji, Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila. The speculation that Dan Bakkolo was killed is not true. These people are the ones terrorising the axis, and they all agreed to the peace proposals, one of which is for them to surrender some of their arms to show commitment to the peace process,” Yusuf said.

According to him, arms were surrendered in three phases, and residents of Shinkafi are now able to access their farms across the river near Turji’s enclave.

He added that 32 kidnapped victims, including women and children, were freed as part of the agreement. “They surrendered the arms in three phases at different times and allowed the residents of Shinkafi to access their farms… He (Mr Turji) also released 32 kidnapped captives as part of the peace agreement,” Yusuf said, displaying footage of some released individuals and the difficult terrain surrounding Turji’s camp.

Yusuf stated that some of the freed women gave birth during captivity, while one victim sustained a snakebite. He said the victims had been held for about four months.

Following the partial truce, he noted that communities in the area are witnessing relative calm and that locals have resumed farming activities without fear of abduction.

The cleric also said that while full disarmament has not occurred, discussions with Turji are ongoing. “We did not ask him to surrender all his arms so as not to make him vulnerable to attack by other groups opposed to the peace process in the state,” he said.

He cautioned other clerics making inflammatory statements online, saying such comments could undermine the fragile peace efforts. “The deal with Mr Turji will not end all terrorist attacks in Zamfara, but the communities on his axis are enjoying peace,” Yusuf added.

He acknowledged support for the peace initiative from President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, and Senator Shehu Buba, noting that their backing of a non-military approach has enabled dialogue to proceed.

In a previous video released in October 2024, Turji had claimed that lasting peace would remain elusive in Zamfara unless security forces and vigilante groups ceased attacks on Fulani communities.

“This is why we are calling on all of you to come and collaborate with us for peace to reign and stop the bloodbath in Zamfara. Guns and airstrikes will not stop us because we are not afraid of death,” Turji had said.

He also dismissed the ongoing blame exchange between Governor Lawal and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, as political, suggesting that neither party had addressed the concerns of residents.