Sokoto communities deserted over fresh Bello Turji threats

Sokoto Communities Deserted Over Fresh Bello Turji Threats

In eastern Sokoto State, fear has once again gripped rural communities following fresh threats allegedly issued by notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji.

The warnings, which emerged after months of relative silence from the feared leader, have triggered mass displacement across Isa Local Government Area, particularly in Tidibale, a small agrarian settlement.

Families have abandoned their homes and farmlands, choosing safety over livelihood, as the specter of imminent attacks looms large.

Investigations reveal that many of the displaced residents have fled to Isa town, Gidan Hamisu, and Shinkafi in Zamfara State, seeking refuge in overcrowded shelters or makeshift camps.

Farmers who should be preparing for the planting season now face uncertainty, with women, children, and the elderly bearing the brunt of the crisis. A viral video circulating on social media captures convoys of vehicles ferrying residents and their belongings out of the threatened communities, underscoring the scale of the exodus.

Local sources suggest that Turji’s latest threats are an attempt to reassert his relevance and authority after a lull in his activities. He reportedly warned Tidibale and surrounding communities of severe consequences should they fail to align with him.

Meanwhile, several communities in Shinkafi Local Government Area, including Shinkafi town, Katuru, Jangeru, and Kanwa, are said to have entered into a truce with Turji. Residents describe this arrangement not as genuine consent but as a desperate survival strategy, pledging not to confront or report his activities in exchange for relative peace.

Altine Guyawa, a public commentator on banditry in Sokoto East, noted that the threats have reshaped the “geography of fear” in the region.

Turji’s operations now appear concentrated in Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Wurno, and Rabah local government areas, where communities have refused to enter into any form of truce. Guyawa warned that such threats often follow prolonged silence and serve as reminders of a bandit’s presence and control, with civilians paying the highest price.

The crisis in Sokoto is unfolding alongside other violent incidents in Nigeria. In Benue State, suspected armed herdsmen attacked Otobi Akpa community in Otukpo Local Government Area, killing five people, including a former councillor and political candidate.

The attack, which occurred at midnight, further deepened insecurity in the region. At the national level, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) recently delivered critical military supplies to Nigeria, reinforcing Washington’s commitment to supporting counter-terrorism operations.

Former senator Shehu Sani welcomed the assistance, stressing the need to eliminate Turji and other criminal leaders operating in Zamfara’s hinterlands.

The displacement in Sokoto highlights the fragile security situation in Nigeria’s northwest, where communities are caught between resisting banditry and negotiating survival.

As families abandon their ancestral homes, the threats from Bello Turji serve as a stark reminder of the enduring challenge of insecurity and the urgent need for sustained, coordinated action to restore peace.