Turji’s Gang strikes again, kills five, abducts nine in Sokoto Village

Notorious bandit leader Bello Turji and his gang have reportedly launched a deadly pre-dawn attack on Bargaja village in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing five residents and abducting nine others, mostly women.

The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, also left a member of the Community Guard Corps seriously injured, according to local sources.

Prior to the incident, a local activist, Basharu Altine Guyawa, had raised an alarm on social media about the movement of Turji and his men, warning that they were advancing toward the Isa axis.

Guyawa claimed the bandits were sighted moving out of Fadanar Tursa and Dorawar Madugu toward Dan Huntuwa via the Katutu Bridge, which links Shinkafi and Isa LGAs, with about 40 motorcycles, suggesting a coordinated large-scale operation.

He accused security operatives and local authorities of failing to act on the intelligence, alleging negligence and mismanagement of security resources.

However, Isa Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, dismissed the allegations, insisting that the authorities responded swiftly after receiving the alert.

“Upon receiving the alert, we immediately mobilized local security guards and notified the relevant security agencies for swift action,” Kamarawa said.

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He explained that despite the rapid response, the bandits diverted through another route, leading to the attack on Bargaja.

Kamarawa disclosed that the commander in charge of the area had been replaced after an internal review found lapses in coordination and response.

“We deeply sympathize with the affected families and assure them that both the state and local governments are fully committed to restoring peace and stability in the area,” he added.

The chairman also praised Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his continued support to security agencies, citing the recent distribution of patrol vehicles, motorcycles, and the reinstatement of operational allowances to boost counter-banditry operations.

The latest assault underscores the persistent insecurity troubling parts of eastern Sokoto, where Turji’s gang and other armed groups continue to terrorize rural communities despite ongoing military operations and local security interventions.

Who is Bello Turji?

Bello Turji Kachalla, widely known as Bello Turji, is one of Nigeria’s most notorious bandit leaders, operating mainly across the Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina axis in the North-West.

Turji gained prominence around 2019 after orchestrating a series of mass abductions, killings, and village raids, often targeting rural communities, security convoys, and highway travelers.

Despite several military offensives and bounty announcements, he has continued to evade capture, operating from remote forest hideouts near the Shinkafi–Isa border.

In 2022, Turji was reported to have declared a temporary ceasefire, claiming his actions were driven by revenge for government neglect and military airstrikes on his community. The truce quickly collapsed amid renewed violence.

Security experts describe Turji as a symbol of the deep-rooted banditry crisis in the region—one that thrives on arms trafficking, ransom networks, and weak rural governance.

Authorities say he remains one of the most wanted bandit commanders in Nigeria, with ongoing intelligence-led operations aimed at neutralizing his network.

Turji’s Gang strikes again, kills five, abducts nine in Sokoto Village

Soludo condemns vote buying in Nnewi South, praises INEC for peaceful polls

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has condemned reports of vote buying in some parts of Nnewi South Local Government Area, describing the practice as a major concern in an otherwise peaceful election exercise across the state.

Governor Soludo made the remarks after casting his vote at Polling Unit 002, Ofiyi Square, Umueze, Isuofia Ward 13, Aguata Local Government Area, around 1:20 p.m. on Saturday.

Addressing journalists shortly after voting, the governor commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring a smooth and orderly process in most parts of the state.

“I have been getting numerous calls from across the state. I think it has been relatively peaceful and going smoothly. Though there are some glitches at polling units in Olumbanasa in Anambra West, where the BVAS reportedly did not work as expected, on average, the election is going well,” Soludo said.

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He, however, expressed dismay over reports of massive vote buying in Nnewi South, alleging that some voters were offered as much as ₦15,000 to influence their choices.

“The only concern we have received is in one or two places in Nnewi South, where we understand that there has been massive vote buying. Some voters are being paid as much as ₦15,000,” he stated.

While expressing confidence in his party’s chances, Soludo stressed that the election should be decided through “one man, one vote.”

He also claimed that a certain political party was planning to manipulate results during collation, urging vigilance among voters and party agents.

“We have information that one political party’s strategy is to swap results during collation. They even told their polling agents not to write results properly or upload them on IReV to create room for manipulation,” Soludo alleged.

“But we have confidence in the system. Our people are vigilant, organized, and united. If the process works as designed, we have no doubt that we will win all 21 local government areas,” he added.

The governor commended INEC for the early commencement of voting and praised residents for their peaceful conduct during the exercise, assuring that everyone on the queue before the official closing time would be allowed to vote.

Soludo condemns vote buying in Nnewi South, praises INEC for peaceful polls

Shari’ah Council urges Tinubu to withdraw appointment of INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately withdraw the appointment of the newly inaugurated Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, over alleged bias reflected in a past publication attributed to him.

The demand, made in a statement issued on Friday, November 7, 2025 (16th Jumada I 1447 AH), followed a report revealing that Prof. Amupitan authored a 2020 legal brief describing attacks in parts of Nigeria as “genocide against Christians and minority groups.”

According to the report, the document — titled “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria – The Implications for the International Community” — was released by the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), a global human rights advocacy group. It was reportedly signed by Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) & Co., Legal Practitioners & Corporate Consultants, with offices in Jos and Abuja.

The SCSN expressed “deep disappointment and grave concern” over the publication, describing it as “provocative, distorted, and bigoted” in its portrayal of Muslims in Northern Nigeria.

“If indeed Prof. Amupitan authored the said document, his submissions are not only unbecoming of a person of learning but dangerously inimical to the unity, peace, and stability of our country,” the statement read.

The council criticised the alleged claims in the brief as “divisive and factually inaccurate narratives against a majority faith community.”

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Rejecting the characterisation of Northern violence as “Christian genocide,” the SCSN said the conflicts in the North are “complex and multi-dimensional,” affecting both Muslims and Christians.

“Both Muslims and Christians have suffered immensely from extremist attacks, banditry, and communal conflicts rooted in accumulated neglect, poverty, and social injustice,” it stated.

Citing humanitarian data, the council maintained that Muslims have suffered more casualties than any other group.

“Credible data from independent and international sources reveal that Muslims have suffered more casualties in these conflicts. This is verifiable by mapping violence across states such as Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Yobe, where over 90 percent of victims are Muslims,” it added.

The SCSN also faulted the alleged attempt in the brief to link northern insecurity to the 19th-century Jihad of Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio, calling it a “malicious distortion of history.”

“The Jihad of Sheikh Uthman was not a war of hatred but a reform movement rooted in justice and ethics. These ideals remain respected across Africa today,” the council stated.

Questioning Prof. Amupitan’s neutrality as the head of the electoral body, the council said his alleged views “raise doubts about his capacity to ensure fairness and inclusivity in national elections.”

“By his own words, Prof. Amupitan has demonstrated a deep-seated prejudice that calls into serious question his ability to conduct free and fair elections,” the statement added.

Consequently, the SCSN urged President Tinubu to “review and reverse” the appointment, insisting that “the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process cannot be entrusted to someone whose record reveals open hostility toward one of the country’s largest faith communities.”

The council, however, appealed for calm and unity across religious lines, urging Nigerians to reject divisive narratives.

“Our common enemies are injustice, corruption, poverty, and insecurity,” it said, reaffirming its commitment to peace, fairness, and national cohesion.

Shari’ah Council urges Tinubu to withdraw appointment of INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan