Bello Turji, a notorious bandit leader, has issued a fresh threat to communities in Sokoto State, forcing residents to flee their homes and farmlands. The threat has triggered panic, with many families abandoning their properties and seeking safety in Isa town, Gidan Hamisu town, and neighboring Shinkafi in Zamfara State 
Turji’s warning has deepened the already fragile security situation in Sokoto East, leaving rural communities vulnerable. Women, children, and the elderly are among those displaced, with farmers struggling to prepare for the next planting season. A displaced resident said, “We left everything behind; life is more important than crops
Some communities in Zamfara State, including Shinkafi town, Katuru, Jangeru, and Kanwa, have reportedly entered into a truce with Turji, pledging not to confront or report his activities. However, analysts warn that such arrangements risk spreading insecurity to other areas
Turji’s activities are concentrated in Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Wurno, and Rabah local government areas, with victims kidnapped by his lieutenants being taken to forest camps around Shinkafi for ransom negotiations
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