Bandit leader Bello Turji reportedly claims responsibility for recent attacks on security operatives in parts of Sokoto and Zamfara states and says his group is prepared for either dialogue or continued armed confrontation. The claim appears in a video circulating on social media that both reports say was recorded on June 20, 2026. In the recording, a masked man believed to be Turji speaks in Hausa alongside armed individuals wearing military-style camouflage. He references ongoing clashes in Nigeria’s North-West and alleges that communities in areas including Shinkafi in Zamfara State and Sabon Birni in Sokoto State have faced attacks and livestock seizures. The speaker also says his group carried out retaliatory actions against those it accuses of targeting its communities. He states that the group is willing to engage in peace negotiations if the government pursues dialogue, saying “If the government is ready for negotiation, we are also ready for negotiation.” At the same time, he warns that if military pressure continues, his fighters are prepared for confrontation. The reports do not provide independent verification of the claims or details of casualties.