Notorious Bandit Leader Bello Turji Issues Fresh Threat To Sokoto Community

Fear has returned to Tidibale, a farming community in eastern Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following a fresh warning linked to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji. The threat, coming after months of relative quiet, has reignited anxiety in a region long plagued by insecurity.

Residents say the warning triggered panic, forcing families to abandon their homes and farmlands. Many fled to Isa town, Gidan Hamisu and neighbouring Shinkafi in Zamfara State, fearing renewed violence. Women, children and the elderly are the most affected.

Local accounts suggest the move is aimed at reasserting Turji’s influence after a lull in his activities. Communities that have not aligned with him were reportedly warned of “dire consequences,” further worsening the fragile security situation in Sokoto East.

Farmers preparing for the planting season are now sheltering with relatives or in makeshift homes, uncertain about returning. One displaced resident said leaving behind crops and property was painful but necessary, stressing that survival comes first.

Meanwhile, communities in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State — including Shinkafi town, Katuru, Jangeru and Kanwa — are said to have entered a truce with Turji, agreeing not to confront or report his activities, a decision residents describe as a survival strategy.

Security analyst Altine Guyawa said the development has reshaped the region’s “geography of fear,” noting that Turji’s activities are now concentrated in Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Wurno and Rabah local government areas. He warned that such threats often follow periods of silence and civilians usually pay the price.

Efforts to reach the Sokoto State Police Command spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rufa’e, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were not returned.