Prominent leaders and stakeholders in Sokoto State have strongly condemned renewed threats of violent attacks issued by notorious terrorist kingpin Bello Turji, calling on the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action to neutralize the growing security threat in the North West.
The outcry follows a series of chilling audio and video messages recently circulated by Turji and his associates, in which the wanted bandit leader openly boasted of his capacity to launch fresh assaults on communities across Sokoto, Zamfara, and parts of Kebbi states if his demands are not met.
Community leaders, traditional rulers, religious figures, and civil society groups in Sokoto described the threats as “brazen,” “reckless,” and a direct challenge to the authority of both state and federal governments.
In a joint statement made available to newsmen, the leaders expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in the region, noting that Turji’s continued freedom to issue threats, record propaganda messages, and move relatively freely has severely undermined public confidence in ongoing military operations.
They accused the bandit leader of deliberately targeting innocent civilians, farmers, and vulnerable rural communities in a bid to exert control over large swathes of territory and extract ransoms.
Key demands contained in the leaders’ appeal to the Federal Government include:
Intensification of coordinated military operations specifically targeting Bello Turji and his top commanders
Deployment of additional specialized forces and surveillance assets to the most affected local government areas
Strengthened intelligence-sharing between security agencies and local communities
Swift prosecution of arrested terror suspects to serve as deterrence
Sustained support for displaced persons and communities living under constant fear of attack
The statement emphasized that “the time for mere condemnation is over, what is needed now is concrete, result-oriented action that will bring Bello Turji and his terror network to justice.”
Bello Turji, who has been declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters and listed among Nigeria’s most wanted terrorists, has been linked to numerous high-profile kidnappings, mass killings, cattle rustling, and village raids across the North West zone over the past several years.
Security analysts say his ability to repeatedly evade capture and continue issuing public threats highlights critical gaps in current counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency strategies in the region.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Sokoto State Government nor the Federal Ministry of Defence had issued an official response to the latest threats or the community leaders’ call for urgent intervention.
Residents in the affected areas say they live in constant fear, with many farmers abandoning their fields ahead of the upcoming planting season due to the escalated risk of attack.
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