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

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