In yet another escalation of insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, gunmen suspected to be loyal to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji have killed two residents and abducted an unspecified number of others during a violent raid on Bargaja village in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attack, which occurred along the volatile Sokoto–Zamfara axis, marks a continuation of repeated assaults on the community. Security sources and residents report that Bargaja had already suffered an earlier raid just days prior, contributing to widespread fear and fresh waves of displacement.
DSP Ahmed Rufai, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Sokoto State Command, confirmed the incident:“Gunmen allegedly loyal to bandit leader Bello Turji were suspected to have carried out the attack. Two were killed, but we could not give the exact number of people that were kidnapped. We will get fuller details from the DPO of the local government to determine the number of those abducted.”
As of now, police are awaiting a comprehensive field report from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Isa to provide more precise information on the abductions and overall casualties.
The assault is part of a broader pattern of violence in eastern Sokoto, particularly affecting communities in Isa and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas.
Residents from nearby Tidibale Ward, described by sources as “devastated by Bello Turji” have been fleeing in large numbers in recent months, seeking refuge in Isa town and surrounding areas.
Many displaced individuals are arriving frequently as farming and pastoral settlements come under increasing threat.One security source lamented the ongoing crisis:“The whole of Tidibale Ward has been devastated by Bello Turji.”
A resident appealed urgently for intervention:“Civilians were fast becoming refugees in their own land,” calling on federal, state, and local authorities to act decisively.
Despite repeated assurances from security agencies, attacks, kidnappings, and forced evacuations persist in the region.
Neither the Sokoto State Government nor the Isa Local Government Council had issued an official response to the latest incident at the time of reporting.
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