Fear Spreads as Bello Turji Threatens Fresh Attack

Residents of communities in the eastern axis of Sokoto State, especially Tidibale, a farming settlement in Isa Local Government Area, are reportedly fleeing in significant numbers after new threats issued by notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.

Locals said the Bello Turji threat, coming after months of relative quiet from the bandit kingpin, has reignited fear, pushing families to leave their homes and farmlands behind.

Vanguard reported that numerous families have escaped to Isa, Gidan Hamisu and nearby Shinkafi communities in Zamfara State, in search of safety over fears of renewed attacks.

Investigations indicate that the kingpin is seeking to reestablish his influence after a lull in activities, warning of “dire consequences” for Tidibale and surrounding villages that have not aligned with him.

The renewed threat has worsened the already delicate security situation in Sokoto East, where many rural settlements remain exposed.

Reports showed that women, children and the elderly form a large portion of those displaced. Farmers meant to prepare for the coming planting season are instead sheltering in overcrowded relatives’ homes or makeshift camps, unsure if they will ever return.

“We left everything behind; life is more important than crops,” a displaced resident told Vanguard.
A viral video captured numerous vehicles transporting people and belongings away from the affected villages.

Meanwhile, several communities in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, including Shinkafi town, Katuru, Jangeru and Kanwa, are said to have reached a peace pact with Turji.

Vanguard learned that under the agreement, the villages allegedly vowed not to challenge or report his movements, a choice residents described as a survival tactic rather than approval.

Altine Guyawa, a public analyst on banditry and kidnapping in Sokoto East, told Vanguard that the situation has altered the region’s landscape of fear.

He said Turji has now focused his operations on Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Wurno and Rabah Local Government Areas, communities that have not entered any truce with him.

He added that such threats often come after silence, acting as reminders of a bandit leader’s continued existence.

“It is about relevance and control,” he said, cautioning that civilians usually pay the highest price, which is death.

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