Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A wave of terror has gripped several communities in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State on the 10th to 20th of June 2026, following reports that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has imposed a staggering ₦30 million levy on each village and ordered residents to pay additional "rainy season taxes" before they can safely access their farmlands. The development, which has left communities in panic, comes amid a surge in abductions, with scores of women and children reportedly taken captive in recent days.
According to local sources who spoke with our correspondent, the affected villages include Tabkin Fili, Jazzamiya, Gindi da Tsawo, Baƙar Fuska and Garin Uban Dawaki. These communities, located along the Nigeria–Niger border near communities in the Maradi Region of Niger Republic, have been subjected to relentless attacks and extortion. Residents allege that Turji and his gang have issued a non-negotiable ultimatum to each affected community: pay ₦30 million in ransom or face further attacks. Adding to the distress, the bandits have reportedly imposed additional levies described as "rainy season taxes," which farmers must pay before they are permitted to work on their farms without threat of attack. This move is seen as a calculated strategy to cripple agricultural activities in the region, further deepening the humanitarian crisis. Local sources claim that scores of residents, mostly women and children, have been abducted in recent days, with the exact number of captives still unknown. Families are said to be living in anguish as they await news of their loved ones. The kidnappings, which are believed to be part of Turji's broader campaign of intimidation, have left communities reeling and desperate for government intervention.
A troubling dimension to the crisis is the allegation that the villages are being targeted because they are accused of sharing intelligence with security forces across the border. This accusation, residents say, has made them targets of Turji's wrath, leading to the harsh penalties and relentless attacks. As fear spreads across the area, residents are urgently calling on Nigerian authorities and security agencies to intervene, rescue those allegedly held captive and prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis. Community leaders have pleaded with the government to deploy troops to the area and take decisive action against the bandits. "We are living in constant fear. Our children cannot go to school, our women cannot go to the market, and our farmers cannot go to their farms," one resident told our correspondent, speaking on condition of anonymity.
This latest development is not an isolated incident. Bello Turji has a long history of imposing illegal levies and terrorising communities in Sokoto and Zamfara states. In February 2025, he imposed a ₦25 million levy on villages in Isa and Sabon Birni local government areas. He has also been accused of collecting ransoms and killing victims even after payments were made. Recently, the Nigerian Army confirmed that Turji and his loyalists are conducting weapons training and tactical drills in parts of Isa LGA, signaling a dangerous escalation of his operations. As the crisis deepens, the Federal Government and security agencies face mounting pressure to act decisively. Residents of Isa LGA have called for the immediate deployment of troops, enhanced intelligence gathering, and a comprehensive military operation to dismantle Turji's network and rescue the abducted victims. For now, the people of Tabkin Fili, Jazzamiya, Gindi da Tsawo, Baƙar Fuska and Garin Uban Dawaki remain trapped in a nightmare, hoping for a lifeline that has yet to come.
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