Notorious Warlord Bello Turji’s Gang Kills Five, Abducts Nine in Fresh Sokoto Raid
Armed bandits led by the notorious warlord Bello Turji have launched a devastating attack on Bargaja village in the Isa Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State, resulting in the death of five people and the abduction of nine others.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday, and also left one member of the Community Guard Corps injured.
The attack came shortly after a local activist, Basharu Altine Guyawa, raised the alarm about the movement of Turji’s gang, warning that they were seen moving towards Isa LGA from the Shinkafi axis in neighboring Zamfara State. Guyawa alleged that security agencies and local authorities failed to act on the prior intelligence, allowing the attack to proceed.
The Chairman of Isa LGA, Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, confirmed the incident but denied claims of negligence. Kamarawa asserted that the council had mobilized security guards and alerted relevant agencies immediately after receiving the report.
He explained that security personnel were deployed but the bandits diverted through an alternative route, which enabled them to carry out the attack.
In response to the incident, Kamarawa disclosed that the security commander in charge of the area has been replaced due to “lapses in response and coordination.”
This latest assault underscores the persistent security threat faced by rural communities in the eastern axis of Sokoto State, despite ongoing efforts by the state government, including the establishment and equipping of the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps.
The region has consistently struggled with intense banditry, often spilling over from Zamfara, a situation the current Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has made a top priority since assuming office.
