…Turji is seeking to reassert his influence after a period of inactivity,
SOKOTO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Bello Turji, the notorious bandit leader linked to years of violence in the Northwest, has reignited fear in Tidibale, a farming community in the eastern part of Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following a chilling warning to residents.
Residents say the message, coming after months of relative calm, sparked fresh panic and forced many families to flee their homes and farmlands. Displaced villagers have sought refuge in Isa town, Gidan Hamisu and parts of Shinkafi in neighbouring Zamfara State, fearing an imminent return of attacks.
Community sources believe Turji is seeking to reassert his influence after a period of inactivity, issuing threats of severe repercussions against Tidibale and surrounding settlements that have refused to align with him.
The warning has further destabilised an already fragile security situation in Sokoto East, leaving women, children and the elderly among those most affected. Farmers, who should be preparing for the next planting season, are now crowded into relatives’ homes or makeshift shelters, unsure when it will be safe to return.
“We abandoned everything,” one displaced resident said. “Saving our lives mattered more than our farms.”
Meanwhile, several communities in Zamfara State’s Shinkafi Local Government Area — including Shinkafi town, Katuru, Jangeru and Kanwa, are said to have reached a truce with Turji. Under the arrangement, residents reportedly agreed not to challenge or report his movements, a decision locals describe as a matter of survival rather than genuine consent.
Altine Guyawa, a commentator on banditry and kidnapping in Sokoto East, said the situation has redrawn the region’s map of fear. He noted that Turji has now focused his activities on Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Wurno and Rabah local government areas, communities that have not entered into any truce with the bandit leader.
According to Guyawa, such threats often follow quiet periods and are intended to signal continued dominance. “It’s about relevance and control,” he said, warning that civilians usually bear the brunt.
Sources further allege that abductees taken by Turji’s lieutenants are moved to forest camps around Shinkafi, where ransom negotiations are conducted before victims are released, a pattern residents say has become alarmingly common across state lines.
The unfolding developments highlight the complex security challenges in the Northwest, where displacement, informal truces and fear have become routine for many rural communities. Analysts caution that while such arrangements may bring temporary relief to some areas, they often shift insecurity to others.
As Tidibale empties and families disperse in search of safety, the episode raises pressing national concerns about protecting rural populations, the growing influence of armed groups and the urgent need for coordinated responses that can restore confidence and enable displaced residents to return home without fear.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Sokoto State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Rufa’e, did not respond to calls or text messages sent by our correspondent.
