By SUNTV Global Channel
January 27, 2026
Fresh controversy has erupted in Zamfara State following the circulation of an All Progressives Congress (APC) membership card allegedly bearing the name and photograph of notorious terrorist kingpin Bello Turji, a development that has ignited public outrage and renewed fears of political complicity with violent non-state actors.
Bello Turji, a wanted bandit leader widely linked to mass killings, kidnappings and coordinated attacks across Zamfara and neighbouring states, was purportedly identified as an APC member after an image of the card surfaced on social media. The claim immediately triggered intense debate, with many Nigerians questioning how a figure of such notoriety could be linked to a mainstream political party.
However, the Zamfara State chapter of the APC has firmly rejected the allegation, dismissing the membership card as fake, forged and deliberately manufactured to damage the party’s reputation.
In a statement issued on Monday in Gusau, the state capital, the APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, said the party had uncovered what he described as a crudely doctored membership card designed to falsely associate Bello Turji with the ruling party.
“The party has come across a fake APC membership card in circulation, doctored to carry the edited photograph of the notorious bandits’ kingpin, Bello Turji, and falsely portraying him as a registered member of our great party,” Idris said.
According to him, the alleged forgery was the work of “mischievous elements” intent on sabotaging the ongoing APC electronic registration (e-registration) exercise in the state.
“This was carried out by individuals who are unhappy with the smooth, successful and coordinated manner in which the APC e-registration exercise is progressing in Zamfara State,” he added.
Idris argued that the inconsistencies on the card were so obvious that “even the man on the street” could easily detect the forgery. He pointed specifically to the emboldened figure “26” on the card’s date, which he said referred to January 26 and was suspiciously manipulated.
He further noted that the photograph used on the card was a widely circulated image of Bello Turji, well known to both security agencies and the general public, making the alleged manipulation even more apparent.
“The photograph of the hardened criminal used on the card is his popular image, already known nationwide. This alone exposes the forgery,” Idris stated.
The APC spokesman also stressed that the party’s registration process is linked to Nigeria’s National Identification Number (NIN) system, making it practically impossible for a wanted terrorist to be enrolled.
“No individual can be duly registered without a NIN. Bello Turji does not have one. That alone renders the entire claim meaningless,” he said.
He explained that NIN enrolment requires detailed personal information and biometric capture by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), questioning how a known armed bandit could pass through such a process unnoticed.
“How could NIMC capture someone in military gear with a gun on his shoulders? Are such features acceptable? Certainly not,” Idris queried.
Highlighting further discrepancies, Idris said the identification code on the alleged card did not match Zamfara State’s registration format.
“Our membership cards in Zamfara begin with the code ‘36’, not ‘26’. The code ‘26’ belongs to Niger State. This alone exposes the ignorance of those behind the forgery,” he said.
He revealed that preliminary investigations had linked the origin of the fake card to one Babangida Aliyu Shinkafi, also known as Waziri, whom he described as an associate of Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi. According to Idris, Babangida Aliyu Shinkafi had recently been suspended from participating in the e-registration exercise due to what he termed a “dubious attitude”.
“The fake card first appeared on his Facebook page, which raises serious questions about his involvement,” Idris alleged.
The APC leadership in Zamfara, he said, has completely distanced itself from the card, which reportedly carries the registration number ID: APC 261113000102.
“Bottom line is that the APC e-registration coordination in Zamfara State and the party chapter as a whole totally debunk and dissociate themselves from this fake membership card,” Idris said.
He called on members of the public to ignore the circulating image and disregard any claims linking the APC to Bello Turji, adding that the matter has already been reported to security agencies.
“We have formally reported this forgery to the security agencies, and we are confident that the perpetrators will be arrested and prosecuted,” he said.
The incident comes amid heightened public anxiety over allegations that some political actors in Nigeria’s northwest may be courting or shielding armed groups, as banditry continues to claim thousands of lives and displace entire communities across the region.
