Bandit leader, Bello Turji celebrate Salah by killing 11 Sokoto residents

No fewer than 11 farmers in Lugu town, Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State have been reportedly killed by dreaded terrorists leader, Bello Turji.

It was gathered that the attack, that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, happened when Turji and his foot soldiers were returning from a Sallah visit.

A resident of Isa, who identified himself as Basharu Altine Giyawa, confirmed the killings, to reporters in Sokoto stating that locals had been aware of Turji’s planned visit to the eastern part of Gatawa in Sabon Birni Local Government Area since Saturday.

He added that the community had earlier notified security agencies about the movement of the bandit leader but received no effective response.

“Yesterday, 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 said.
He blamed the attack on the failure of security operatives to act on intelligence provided by residents.

A local security official, identified as Sani Abubakar, disclosed that security personnel had received reports of Turji’s movement but denied that he celebrated Sallah in any community under his jurisdiction.

“Yes, we got intelligence about the planned visit to the eastern part of Gatawa and took action. We deployed security measures in Sabon Birni to prevent his entry. This may have been why he directed his anger at innocent farmers in Isa,” he said.

It was also learnt that Turji had stopped in Tozai village, where he killed the leader of a local vigilante group before he furthered his journey.

The spokesman of the Sokoto State Police Command, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, when contacted stated that only the military could confirm the attack, as they were responsible for security operations in the affected area.

All efforts made by newsmen to get a response from the Nigerian Army proved abortive, as the Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, Operation Hadarin Daji, Lt Col. Abdullahi, could not be reached as of the time this report was filled.