A Northern singer has reportedly released a song praising bandit and kidnap kingpin, Bello Turji, who is said to be the leader of the bandit groups terrorising communities in Sokoto, Zamfara, and parts of Niger Republic.

Turji’s gang is also said to be responsible for the December 6 massacre in which 23 passengers were burnt alive in a bus they were travelling in, in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The 14-minute song was rendered in Hausa by a man who identified himself in the song as Adamu Ayuba, with the female chorus hailing Mr Turji as a hero among heros.

Premium Times reported that one Abba Ya’u, a Kano resident, described as shocking the song released in praise of Mr Turji. Abba said it “has exposed the complicity in the fight against banditry in the area.”

“How can a rational thinking person sing a song for a bandit who is causing mayhem, killings innocent people. To be frank with you, our people are not serious.

“This banditry will only come to an end when the community wants it to end because it is a community-based issue,” he said

Another resident of Kano, Abubakar Danhausa called for the arrest of the singer. Danhausa said;

“He must be arrested and treated as a bandit, he most have been one of their informants.

“Many people are still aware of how one of the state governments gave the bandits money for peaceful conduct of the 2019 elections.”