Fear and despair have gripped communities in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, as notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, reportedly issued a chilling ultimatum to residents, further deepening the insecurity crisis in Nigeria’s North-West.
According to multiple sources, Turji has demanded the draining of a local dam, threatening brutal repercussions if his warning is ignored. This latest threat has thrown the already traumatized villagers into a new wave of panic, prompting urgent calls for state and federal intervention.
Turji, one of Nigeria’s most dangerous and elusive bandit warlords, has been linked to scores of mass killings, abductions, and village raids across Zamfara, Sokoto, and parts of Niger State. Despite repeated military offensives and air raids aimed at dismantling his terror network, he continues to operate with near impunity, tormenting communities and displacing thousands.
“We Live Like Prisoners In Our Own Land”
In an interview with PUNCH, residents painted a grim picture of life under Turji’s shadow.
Abubakar Isa, a local barber, lamented the helplessness of his people:
> “It is very unfortunate that we are being treated like strangers in our own community. How can we now live in a society where criminals issue ultimatums, and the government remains silent? We are appealing to the authorities—please, save us from this nightmare!”
Another resident, Alhaki Abdullahi Isa, said the situation has become unbearable.
> “We can no longer enjoy our homes. Turji is giving us orders like we are under his government. This is unacceptable. We have nowhere to run. We are suffering, and the world needs to hear us!”
The escalating threat underscores a worsening security emergency in Northern Nigeria, where banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping have continued to flourish despite military campaigns. The impunity with which Turji operates highlights the glaring gaps in Nigeria’s security architecture and the urgent need for a coordinated, decisive crackdown.
Rights advocates and traditional rulers in the region have called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to go beyond rhetoric and deploy tactical, intelligence-led military operations to dismantle the bandit networks that have turned rural Nigeria into a war zone.
Sokoto residents are not just pleading—they are demanding action. “We want to live like human beings again,” one elderly woman told journalists, her voice trembling. “If Turji is more powerful than our government, then we are finished.”
As the cries grow louder and the fear deepens, one thing remains clear: Northern Nigeria is on the brink, and without swift, strategic intervention, Bello Turji’s reign of terror may continue to cast its long shadow over innocent lives.
PIONEER NEWS 