The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has debunked reports that Bello Turji, a notorious Zamfara terrorist commander, has surrendered to security forces, despite claims by some Islamic clerics that the bandit leader recently entered into a peace pact.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, clarified this during a briefing in Abuja yesterday. Responding to questions from journalists, Kangye stated that the military had no record of Turji’s formal surrender, and that any reported negotiation did not involve the armed forces.

“Contrary to circulating reports, Turji has not surrendered to the military. We are aware of certain local peace efforts, but these are outside the official framework,” Kangye said.

His comments come after Sheikh Musa Yusuf, popularly known as Asadus-Sunnah, told worshippers during a religious gathering in Kaduna on Monday that Turji had released 32 kidnapped victims and handed over weapons as part of a cleric-led peace initiative.

ALSO, the Niger State government has announced its plans for the reopening of public schools in councils significantly affected by insecurity. The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, emphasised the government’s commitment to enhancing security infrastructure in schools impacted by the prevailing challenges.

She lauded UNICEF and other partners for their continuous technical support and assistance. Mohammed confirmed that comprehensive plans have been established to overcome barriers to education arising from the insecurity.

During the dissemination meeting on “The Impact of Insecurity on Access to Education in Niger State”, the minister reported that 29 closed schools have reopened, and 20 others are being renovated across the state.