A prominent Islamic preacher in Sokoto, Murtala Bello Asada, has lambasted the Nigerian Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mutawalle, calling his N20 million bounty on notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, a “huge joke”.
The minister had shortly after relocating to Sokoto State on the directives of President Bola Tinubu on September 1, offered N20 million bounty for the capture of notorious bandits kingpin, Bello Turji.
In a viral video, posted by a counter insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad basin, Zagazola Makama on his X on Sunday, Asada while delivering a sermon, accused Matawalle of supplying logistics to bandits, claiming he donated Toyota Hilux vehicles to terrorists’ kingpins, including Halilu Sububu, Ada Allero, and Bello Turji.
Asada described the minister’s bounty as a “huge joke”, saying, “How dare he place monetary bounty on Bello Turji, doesn’t he know his whereabouts? Does he take us for mere gullible fellows?”
The cleric asserted that the government and those in power know where the terrorists are living, and questioned the minister’s commitment to dislodging banditry and terrorism.
“I, Murtala Bello, wish to state unequivocally clear that the current defence minister has bought vehicles for bandits,” Asada said.
“Among benefiting bandits leaders, Halilu Sububu, current defence minister bought them vehicles; Ada Allero, and Bello Turji.”
Asada prayed to God to expose those mishandling the country’s security architecture.
Peoplesmind
