Tension in Sokoto as Bandit Leader Bello Turji Orders Dam Drainage, Threatens Resident

A fresh wave of fear has gripped residents of Isa Local Government Area in Sokoto State after notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji reportedly issued an ultimatum demanding the drainage of a dam in their community or face brutal consequences.

According to a report posted by Daily Post Nigeria, Turji has threatened local villagers with violence if they fail to comply with his order. The dam, a critical source of water for farming and domestic use, has become the center of controversy as residents weigh the risk of attack against the loss of a vital community resource.

Turji’s threats are part of a broader campaign of terror in Sokoto and neighboring Zamfara and Katsina states, where he has been linked to mass killings, kidnappings, and extortion. Security analysts believe this latest order may be part of a tactic to control water resources and assert territorial dominance in the region.

The development comes amid ongoing displacement of civilians in Sokoto. Reports from Vanguard and Punch confirm that over 5,000 residents have recently fled their homes in Isa LGA after Turji issued a separate threat to evacuate several villages by 4pm or face deadly reprisals.

One affected resident told Punch:

“We were warned to leave or die. Many left everything behind homes, farms, and belongings just to survive.”

Military deployments have been made to affected areas, but locals say the presence of security forces is limited and often reactive rather than preventive. Humanitarian concerns are growing as more families seek refuge in overcrowded IDP camps.

Dr. Habibu Halilu Modachi, a lawmaker representing the area, has called on federal authorities to take “immediate and decisive action” before the situation spirals further out of control.

Despite numerous government promises to end banditry, Turji and his network continue to operate with impunity in rural northwestern Nigeria. His command over entire communities raises questions about the effectiveness of current counter-insurgency efforts.

For now, the residents of Isa are left with an impossible choice: drain the dam and lose their lifeline, or defy Turji’s order and risk deadly retaliation.