According to Sheikh Musa Yusuf Assadus Sunnah, one of the clerics involved in the dialogue, the meetings were held on three separate occasions in July, deep within the Fakai forest in Shinkafi Local Government Area. The cleric noted that the dialogue was part of a grassroots-led peace initiative aimed at restoring stability in the region.
Turji and his associates reportedly agreed to key proposals during the talks, including the symbolic surrender of arms and the release of hostages. The bandits also agreed to allow farmers from Shinkafi access to their farmlands across the river leading to Turji's enclave.
The 32 kidnapped victims, mostly women and children, were freed as part of the initial peace gestures. Some of the victims had spent over four months in captivity, with reports of women giving birth in the bush and others suffering from ailments such as snake bites.
The peace accord also stipulates that Fulani residents be allowed to return to town without fear of being profiled or harmed by vigilantes. Since the dialogue, the Shinkafi axis has witnessed relative peace, with no reported cases of kidnapping or killings, and residents have resumed farming activities in previously inaccessible areas.
Sheikh Yusuf cautioned against calling for a complete disarmament of Turji's group at this stage, citing fears of possible attacks from rival factions opposed to the peace process. He also advised fellow clerics to refrain from engaging in public verbal attacks against Turji, warning that such actions could derail the fragile peace process.
The development has been welcomed by locals, with Dr. Suleiman Shuaibu, an indigene of Shinkafi, confirming the release of the captives and expressing optimism about the peace process. While there has been no official statement from government authorities, a source familiar with the matter said the development could be part of a discreet peace effort between the people and the armed groups operating in the region.