Residents in the eastern part of Sokoto State, particularly in Tidibale, a small farming community in Isa Local Government Area, are reportedly fleeing in large numbers after new threats from the infamous bandit leader, Bello Turji.
According to locals, Turji’s warning—issued after months of relative quiet—has sparked panic, forcing families to abandon their homes and farmland. Many have reportedly moved to nearby towns like Isa and Gidan Hamisu, as well as Shinkafi in Zamfara State, in search of safety.
Reports suggest that Turji is attempting to reassert his influence after a period of inactivity, warning of “serious consequences” for Tidibale and surrounding communities that do not align with him. The threat has further destabilised an already fragile security situation in Sokoto East, where rural communities remain highly vulnerable.
Women, children, and the elderly are among those displaced. Farmers, who should be preparing for the planting season, are now forced to sleep in relatives’ homes or makeshift shelters, uncertain if they will ever return to their lands.
“We left everything behind; life is more important than crops,” one displaced resident told Vanguard. Videos circulating online show dozens of vehicles transporting people and belongings out of the affected villages.
Meanwhile, several communities in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State—including Shinkafi town, Katuru, Jangeru, and Kanwa—are said to have entered into a peace deal with Turji. Under the agreement, these villages reportedly pledged not to confront or report his activities, a move locals describe as a survival tactic rather than true consent.
Altine Guyawa, a public analyst on banditry and kidnappings in Sokoto East, told Vanguard that these developments have reshaped the region’s “geography of fear.” According to him, Turji is now focusing his operations on Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Wurno, and Rabah Local Government Areas—communities that have not signed any truce.
Guyawa added that such threats often follow periods of silence, serving as reminders of a bandit leader’s influence. “It is about relevance and control,” he said, cautioning that ordinary citizens often bear the highest cost—sometimes their lives.
Do peace agreements with bandits truly guarantee safety? Share your thoughts in the comments.
