Displaced Sokoto Communities Urgently Seek Government Support as Bandit Threat Escalates

Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

Stakeholders from the Eastern Senatorial District of Sokoto State have issued an urgent appeal to the federal and state governments, as well as security agencies, to intervene and protect communities that have been forcibly displaced by renewed banditry linked to notorious leader Bello Turji. Their call comes amid growing fear, mass movement of civilians and repeated attacks that have left villages in the region deserted and families in distress. 

Community leaders, including Muazu Shamaki, Secretary of the Sokoto Eastern Zone Development Association, confirmed that a viral video showing residents of Tidibale fleeing their homes has reflected a deeper humanitarian crisis in the area. According to Shamaki, more than 20 settlements have now been affected as families seek safety from threats and violence attributed to Turji’s armed network. 

The group expressed alarm at the severe hardship faced by displaced persons, many of whom have left agricultural livelihoods, properties and social support networks behind. Some displaced residents have reportedly taken refuge in neighbouring communities within Sokoto State, while others have crossed into the Niger Republic to escape the escalating insecurity. Appeals for timely and decisive government response reflect growing concern that without enhanced protection and relief efforts, the situation could deteriorate further. 

The renewed crisis in Sokoto’s eastern region is part of a broader pattern of insecurity in north-western Nigeria, where banditry, killings and kidnappings have forced many rural inhabitants to abandon their homes. Recent accounts from Isa Local Government Area, including villages such as Tidibale, Mansalo and Dangulbi, suggest that waves of displacement have been triggered by continued raids and intimidation. Thousands of residents are reported to be sheltering in overcrowded and makeshift conditions, with limited access to essential services and support. 

Local security sources and residents have linked the displacement and attacks to sustained activity by gunmen believed to be loyal to Bello Turji, whose insurgent group has been active across Sokoto and neighbouring Zamfara. For example, community accounts and police reports indicate recent attacks on neighbouring villages, including Bargaja, where two villagers were killed and several others abducted amid ongoing assaults. These incidents have compounded the cycle of fear and forced movement among civilians.

The humanitarian impact of this insecurity is profound. Residents describe the mass exodus from their ancestral homes as a last-resort survival strategy, with many leaving behind farms, livestock and community infrastructure that form the backbone of their livelihoods. Overcrowded shelters and reliance on temporary refuge highlight the fragility of displaced populations as they await a sustainable security solution. 

In response to the crisis, local stakeholders are calling for a multipronged intervention involving reinforced military and police engagement, accelerated relief delivery and coordinated efforts to reopen safe access to farming lands and community resources. These demands underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy that not only curtails the operational capacity of bandits like Turji but also supports the long-term stability and recovery of affected communities. 

Security analysts and civil society voices have noted that without sustained action, including enhanced patrols, intelligence-driven operations and community protection measures, rural populations across the Eastern Senatorial District risk permanent displacement and further erosion of their economic and social fabric. The unfolding situation in Sokoto remains a key test of state capability to safeguard civilians against entrenched banditry and restore confidence for displaced Nigerians hoping to return home. 

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