Bandit leader Bello Turji has ordered the mass evacuation of over 5,000 residents from more than a dozen rural communities in Sokoto State, escalating fears of further violence and displacement in the region.
The forced evacuation came after Turji’s men threatened to attack any community that failed to comply with the demand.
According to local lawmaker Habibu Halilu Modachi, the evacuation order affected several villages in Bafarawa and surrounding areas, particularly in the Isa district, which borders Niger. “Between Saturday and Sunday, over 5,000 people were forced out of their homes after threats from Bello Turji’s men,” Modachi confirmed.
He further explained that the bandits accused the residents of providing information to the military about their hideouts, which led to the demand for evacuation.
Residents fleeing the violence told AFP that the evacuation was accompanied by threats of mass killings. “Turji sent his men to these communities and told them to leave by Sunday afternoon, or face death,” Modachi added.
The displaced residents are now seeking refuge in Isa town and nearby Shinkafi in Zamfara State, as well as with relatives in other, relatively safer areas.
The situation remains dire as the bandits continue their reign of terror. “Even this morning, two people were killed, nine others injured, and seven kidnapped,” Modachi stated. In a similar attack on Saturday, bandits killed eight people and wounded 20 in Altine’s community before forcing the residents to flee.
“We are living in Isa with no food or shelter, and we don’t know what to do,” said Abubakar Altine, one of the displaced persons.
Ahmad Abdullahi, another displaced resident, described the terror they faced as the bandits attacked his village, demanding evacuation and looting everything of value.
“They kept firing indiscriminately, stealing money, foodstuffs, and anything they could carry,” Abdullahi recalled.
Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader, has been terrorizing the region for years. Initially involved in cattle rustling, Turji expanded his criminal activities to kidnapping for ransom and orchestrating deadly raids.
He fled his home state of Zamfara for Sokoto after intense military airstrikes targeted his camps in late 2021. Despite several peace agreements with the Zamfara government, Turji has repeatedly reneged, continuing his violent spree across Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Residents living under Turji’s control are living in constant fear, with many believing that the bandit leader possesses supernatural powers, which contribute to his fearsome reputation.
He has established control over three districts, imposing levies on the communities and carrying out brutal attacks on those who fail to pay. Women, children, and the elderly are not spared from his raids.
In February 2021, Turji was seen in a widely circulated video threatening to bring in foreign gangs to destabilize Nigeria. The Nigerian military has intensified its efforts to curb his operations, conducting aerial bombings in January that killed several of his lieutenants, forcing him to go underground.
However, Turji’s influence and terror continue to grip the region, leaving thousands of Nigerians displaced and living in fear.
The Nigerian government is yet to issue a statement on the latest developments. As the security situation worsens, local authorities and humanitarian organizations are calling for immediate action to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Sokoto and Zamfara states.
