General News
TURJI SURRENDERS ARMS, RELEASES 32 KIDNAPPED VICTIMS IN ZAMFARA PEACE DEAL
Notorious terrorist commander Bello Turji has reportedly surrendered some of his arms and released 32 kidnapped victims following a peace initiative brokered by Islamic clerics in Zamfara State. The breakthrough came after a series of meetings held in July between the clerics and Turji’s gang in the Fakai forest of Zamfara State.
According to prominent Islamic scholar Musa Yusuf, the arms were surrendered in three phases, allowing local farmers to return to their lands. “We met Mr Turji, Dan Bakkolo, Black, Kanawa, and Malam Ila. The speculation that Dan Bakkolo was killed is not true. These individuals are responsible for the insecurity in the area, and they all agreed to the peace proposals,” Yusuf said.
The peace agreement also included the release of 32 kidnapped captives, with some victims having spent nearly four months in captivity. “Turji released 32 captives under the deal, and we have video evidence showing the rough terrain the freed captives had to cross from his camp. Farming has resumed in several areas previously abandoned due to bandit occupation,” Yusuf added.
Yusuf clarified that Turji was not asked to surrender all his weapons to avoid leaving him vulnerable to rival groups. “We deliberately did not demand the surrender of all weapons to avoid making Turji vulnerable to attacks from other groups that may not be part of the peace process,” he said.
Turji emphasized the importance of collaboration for peace, stating that military action alone would not resolve the crisis. “Guns and airstrikes will not stop us because we are not afraid of death,” Turji said.
The notorious bandit leader also criticized the political rivalry between Governor Dauda Lawal and former Governor Bello Matawalle, claiming it undermines the welfare of the people. “The blame game over the worsening security situation between Governor Lawal and Bello Matawalle is political. Both politicians do not have their people’s best interests at heart,” Turji said.
Yusuf commended efforts at federal and state levels, praising several leaders for supporting a non-kinetic approach to tackling insecurity. “We agreed that the Fulanis must be allowed to go to town without being stereotyped or killed by the vigilante,” Yusuf said, emphasizing the need for peace and reconciliation among all communities involved.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has introduced an urgent, coordinated strategy to safeguard food security across West Africa and the Sahel, as global economic disruptions and rising oil prices continue to threaten agricultural production.
The decision followed an extraordinary virtual meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Agriculture held on March 23, 2026, where regional leaders assessed the growing risks to food systems.
The high-level meeting, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture under Commissioner Kalilou Sylla, brought together key regional institutions, development partners, and financial stakeholders.
Participants—including representatives from the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel—reviewed the impact of rising fertiliser costs, driven by global market volatility and increasing energy prices, on agricultural productivity across the region.
Deliberations resulted in the adoption of a medium- to long-term operational framework aimed at strengthening food sovereignty and building resilience within regional food systems.
Key measures outlined in the plan include the immediate establishment of regional agreements to secure strategic fertiliser supplies, as well as the creation of emergency reserves to cushion the effects of future price shocks.
The ministers also approved the introduction of liquidity swap mechanisms through central banks to address foreign exchange constraints faced by importers—an intervention expected to improve access to critical agricultural inputs.
“Our collective response underscores the urgency of safeguarding food security in the face of external shocks,” Sylla said, noting that enhanced regional coordination and targeted interventions would help sustain agricultural production and protect vulnerable populations.
The initiative highlights ECOWAS’ commitment to deepening regional cooperation and implementing sustainable solutions to emerging threats to food security across West Africa and the Sahel.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday paid a Sallah homage to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.
The visit formed part of activities marking the Sallah celebrations, as top government officials and political leaders paid courtesy calls to the President.
During the meeting, President Tinubu also received members of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council, a key political body in Lagos State.
Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council
The engagements provided an opportunity for discussions on national issues and strengthened ties between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The Sallah homage is a long-standing tradition in Nigeria, where political leaders and stakeholders visit the President and other top officials during major Islamic festivities.
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed concern over the reported arrest of a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Umar, describing the development as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic principles.
In a statement issued on Monday, Obi said he was informed that the cleric was arrested by authorities shortly after hosting him in Kaduna on Sunday. He described the situation as “deeply troubling,” warning that it reflects a growing pattern of intimidation and suppression of dissenting voices in the country.
Obi noted that such actions, if confirmed, undermine fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and movement, which he said are essential pillars of any democratic society.
He further stressed that harassment or persecution of citizens based on perceived political affiliations must not be tolerated, urging the government to uphold the rule of law in its dealings with Nigerians.
“This country must defend freedom and free speech, which are the hallmarks of every democratic society,” Obi stated, adding that suppression and intimidation of dissent have no place in a functioning democracy.
The former Anambra State governor called on authorities and all relevant actors to refrain from actions capable of weakening the nation’s already fragile democratic system.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation from security agencies regarding the alleged arrest.