Nigeria, Dec. 16 -- Former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, has denied an allegation by terrorism kingpin, Bello Turji, that his policy ignited banditry in Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Mr Bafarawa stated that banditry or terrorism was not rampant in Sokoto or Zamfara when he left office in 2007 and stated he did not know why the terror kingpin linked him with the atrocities years after leaving office.

Mr Turji, in a video clip released on Saturday, accused Mr Bafarawa and former Governor of Zamfara State, Ahmad Yerima, of starting the crisis by grabbing grazing reserves and establishing local vigilante groups that alleg8 targetted and killed the Fulanis.

The controversy began when Musa Kamarawa, a nephew of Mr Bafarawa, who a...