Over 28 Villages Deserted in Sokoto as Turji Unleash Terror, Forcing Mass Exodus

By Tgnews Reporter

No fewer than 28 villages in the Tidibale axis of Isa Local Government Area, Sokoto State, have been abandoned by residents following relentless attacks, threats, and an alleged ultimatum from bandits loyal to notorious kingpin Bello Turji.

The mass displacement according to a report from Daily Trust, which has turned several rural communities into ghost towns, stems from sustained violence including killings, kidnappings, imposition of illegal levies, and recent reprisal threats.

Displaced persons estimated in the thousands have fled to Isa town, the local government headquarters, where they are sheltering as internally displaced persons (IDPs) in public secondary schools, temporary locations, and with host families.

Affected communities include Tidibale, Mansalo, Dangulbi, Tuwon Takawa, Yar Kurori, Dogon Bedi, Jimbama, Gidan-Rana, Kwannawa, Tafkin Gabas, Gidan-Kara, Chohi, Yisirawa, Duma, Tagirke, Adarawa, Gidan Dikko, and several others. Recent incidents reportedly began with attacks on nearby Bargaja village around January 10–11, where at least two to three people were killed and several abducted.

This escalated into a direct raid and eviction notice in Tidibale on January 12, giving residents just hours to flee or face death.

Displaced residents described a complete breakdown of normal life. One anonymous IDP recounted: “We ran away to save our lives. Bandits imposed huge levies on us—sometimes N3,000 weekly per household, or up to N4 million at once. Despite payments, they still killed, kidnapped, and wounded people.” Another from a nearby community added that even childbirth brings no joy, as “there is no livestock left to slaughter.”

The crisis reportedly intensified after security operatives, including soldiers and vigilantes, killed some bandits during a patrol in the Tidibale area. Bandits accused villagers of collaborating with authorities, triggering reprisals despite residents’ claims of having no access to security forces.

Security analysts, including Alhaji Basharu Altine Guyawa from Isa, attributed the exodus to a direct ultimatum from Turji, who allegedly threatened death for non-compliance and killed three residents of Tidibale who refused to leave their ancestral homes.

Another analyst, Bashir Guyawa Isa, highlighted the pattern: armed groups quickly regroup when troops withdraw, leaving communities vulnerable without sustained security presence.

Hon. Habibu Halilu Modachi, the member representing Isa Constituency in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, raised the alarm, stating that three entire wards in his constituency have been deserted. He dismissed claims of improved security in Isa and neighboring Sabon Birni as misleading, emphasizing that residents live in perpetual fear of attacks at any time. Modachi cited recent killings in Bargaja—including the elder brother of a Sokoto State High Court judge—and called for swift responses to distress calls by security agencies.

Conditions in Isa town are dire. Overcrowded shelters lack adequate space, food, and basic support. One recent arrival lamented: “Classrooms are filled; many people are roaming the streets with nowhere to go.” Assistance has been minimal, with only private donations—such as 100 bags of maize and cassava flour from Amadu Sani—providing limited relief.

The Sokoto State Police Command spokesman, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, confirmed the developments, noting that the command is awaiting a detailed briefing from the Divisional Police Officer in the area. The Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on Security, Lt. Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd), did not respond to requests for comment.

This latest wave of displacement underscores the persistent grip of banditry in Nigeria’s northwest, where groups like those led by Bello Turji continue to terrorize communities through extortion, violence, and territorial control.

Analysts warn that without comprehensive security measures and sustained troop presence, more villages risk becoming uninhabitable, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. Residents and leaders continue to plead for urgent federal and state intervention to restore safety and enable returns home.