Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has reportedly killed 11 farmers in Lugu town, Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The attack, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday, occurred as Turji and his gang were returning from a Sallah visit.
Basharu Altine Giyawa, a resident of Isa, confirmed the killings, noting that the local community had been aware of Turji’s planned movement toward the eastern part of Gatawa in Sabon Birni Local Government Area since Saturday. He stated that despite alerting security agencies about Turji’s presence, no effective response was received.
“Turji and his men left Fakai, his village in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State. They passed through several communities in Isa before attending their Sallah celebrations. On their way back, they brutally killed 11 farmers,” Giyawa explained. He criticized the failure of security forces to act on the intelligence provided by residents.
Sani Abubakar, a local security official, also confirmed the incident, noting that while reports of Turji’s movement had been received, no confirmation was given regarding any Sallah celebrations held in communities under his jurisdiction.
According to another source, Turji made a stop in Tozai village, where he killed the leader of a local vigilante group before continuing his journey.
When contacted for comment, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, stated that only the military could confirm details of the attack, as they were in charge of security operations in the area. Attempts to reach the Nigerian Army for a statement were unsuccessful, as Lt Col Abdullahi, the Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre for Operation Hadarin Daji, could not be reached for comment.
