Sokoto Stakeholders Cry Out Over Bello Turji Attacks
Fear had already spread through Eastern Sokoto long before the public appeal. Families abandoned homes, leaving behind farms, livestock, and livelihoods, as armed bandit threats intensified.
On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, stakeholders from the Eastern Senatorial District of Sokoto State, Nigeria, issued a public appeal for urgent government and security intervention. Their focus was on Tidibale and other communities emptied by violent threats linked to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
These families didn’t flee for convenience; they fled because remaining meant risking death, injury, or abduction — a reality painfully familiar to rural Nigerians in the North-West.
Before the Appeal: A Community Forced to Run
The crisis did not start on the day of the press appeal. It began days earlier, as fear spread like a slow-moving storm over Isa Local Government Area’s rural settlements.
Residents from Tidibale and neighbouring villages first began leaving in early January 2026, after reports surfaced that gunmen loyal to Bello Turji were mobilizing and issuing threats. Locals described how the word spread quickly: “Leave now or face what comes next.” ([NigerianEye](https://www.nigerianeye.com/2026/01/over-28-villages-deserted-amid.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Within hours, farmers abandoned harvests, children were lifted onto vehicles already packed with belongings, and elders walked with heavy hearts into uncertain futures. Over 10,000 people from the Tidibale axis alone are believed to have fled, most without knowing when — or if — they could return. ([NigerianEye](https://www.nigerianeye.com/2026/01/over-28-villages-deserted-amid.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
These mass movements did not happen quietly. Residents from Bargaja village reported that on Monday, January 12 and Tuesday, January 13, 2026, armed assailants killed at least two people and abducted several others — events that intensified panic and accelerated the exodus. ([NigerianEye](https://www.nigerianeye.com/2026/01/bandits-kill-two-abduct-several-in.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The Reality on the Ground: Ghost Villages
By the time leaders raised their voices publicly, at least 28 villages around the Tidibale area had been completely emptied. ([NigerianEye](https://www.nigerianeye.com/2026/01/over-28-villages-deserted-amid.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Communities like Mansalo, Dangulbi, Tuwon Takawa, Yar Kurori, Dogon Bedi, Jimbama, Gidan-Rana, Kwannawa, Tafkin Gabas, and Gidan-Kara were left as ghost settlements with shuttered shops, silent mosques, and fields left to the wind. ([TG News](https://tgnews.com.ng/over-28-villages-deserted-in-sokoto-as-turji-unleash-terror-forcing-mass-exodus/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Thousands of displaced residents suddenly found themselves without shelter. In Isa town, the local government headquarters, schools and public buildings were now crowded with families sleeping on bare floors. Many others sought refuge with relatives or in makeshift camps, just trying to find safety and stability amid confusion. ([NigerianEye](https://www.nigerianeye.com/2026/01/over-28-villages-deserted-amid.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Human Voices: Why They Left
Behind every number was a story of loss and fear.
A woman from Tidibale, holding her youngest child close, explained how difficult it was to decide to leave: “We left without watching our crops. We carried what we could and ran for our lives.” ([The Dream Daily](https://www.thedreamdaily.com/panic-as-bello-turji-reappears-issues-fresh-threat-to-sokoto-zamfara-villages/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Another man, walking beside a small herd of goats, his face etched with exhaustion, said: “We should be preparing the land for planting, but instead we search for safety.” ([New Age Islam](https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/india-warns-pakistan-terror-camps-housing-100-150-militants/d/138440?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Children, once excited for the new school term, now sat unmoving on the ground in overcrowded classrooms, unwilling to play even during brief moments of peace. Their silence spoke louder than any adult plea.
Sokoto Stakeholders Cry Out Over Bello Turji Attacks
On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, local stakeholders finally addressed the crisis publicly. The meeting was not just a press statement; it was a plea rooted in fear, frustration, and a deep desire for protection.
Leaders described how a video circulating on social media captured terrified families fleeing Tidibale and surrounding villages. The scenes — children clinging to parents, elderly guided by relatives — were heartbreaking and showed the depth of the humanitarian crisis. ([Vanguard](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/terrorism-sokoto-leaders-decry-threats-by-bello-turji?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Muazu Shamaki, Secretary of the Sokoto Eastern Zone Development Association, stressed that more than 20 settlements had been affected by threats and forced displacement. He urged the federal and state governments, along with security agencies, to act without delay. ([Vanguard](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/terrorism-sokoto-leaders-decry-threats-by-bello-turji?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Malam Bashar Guyawa-Isa, another stakeholder, noted that many displaced residents had sought refuge in neighbouring communities, even crossing into the Republic of Niger, as fear spread beyond state borders. ([Vanguard](https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/terrorism-sokoto-leaders-decry-threats-by-bello-turji?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The leaders’ message was clear: these were not isolated incidents, but part of an ongoing security breakdown that had already uprooted entire communities.
Daily Life Interrupted
Life in eastern Sokoto used to follow the rhythms of farm seasons and markets. Men tilled land, women managed homes and gardens, and children went to school. These routines formed the backbone of rural life.
Suddenly, that rhythm stopped. Families escaped in the middle of the night. Others packed at dawn, not knowing where they would sleep next. Some moved to Gidan Hamisu town, others crossed state lines into Zamfara State’s Shinkafi region. ([Daily Times NG](https://dailytimesng.com/insurgency-residents-flee-sokoto-communities-over-turjis-threats/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
The psychological impact has been profound. Many displaced people now carry a dual burden of physical hardship and constant worry for the relatives left behind. Some cannot sleep, expecting danger with every rustle of wind.
A Community in Crisis: Why This Matters
The situation in eastern Sokoto is not just about displacement — it is about the breakdown of community and the erosion of hope.
Food Security at Risk
When farming families leave their land unworked, food production drops sharply. Crops ready for harvest are abandoned; seeds that should be planted may rot or be lost. This deepens food insecurity locally and regionally.
Many displaced families now rely on relatives or aid for basic needs. Without steady access, hunger becomes a daily concern.
Education Interrupted
Schools, once places of learning, are now shelters. Children have lost weeks of school, and many may never return if threats persist. Education disruptions have long-term consequences, especially for girls, who are more likely to drop out under insecurity.
Long-term Instability
When villagers’ trust in safety collapses, and entire settlements become empty, reversing the trend becomes harder. Former residents may relocate permanently, shrinking community numbers and eroding local economy and culture.
Security Response and Gaps
Despite assurances, many residents feel the response has been too slow. Military and joint operations exist in other parts of the northwest, but persistent raids in Isa, Sabon Birni, and nearby areas show gaps remain. ([NigerianEye](https://www.nigerianeye.com/2026/01/bandits-kill-two-abduct-several-in.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Officials from the Sokoto State Police Command acknowledged incidents and pledged more information pending field reports. Residents want to see sustained security presence rather than short-term reassurances.
What Needs to Happen Next
Stakeholders highlighted immediate priorities to reverse the crisis:
- Security reinforcement: troops and police patrols for visible reassurance.
- Humanitarian support: shelter, food, water, and medical care for displaced families.
- Protective measures: clear, sustained safety strategies including community engagement.
Conclusion: A Plea for Protection
The appeal made on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, was not just words. It was a cry from families who saw their homes emptied, their futures threatened, and children frightened by constant danger. Sokoto stakeholders cry out over Bello Turji attacks because it represents the lived reality of thousands displaced, struggling to find safety and stability.
Only time will tell whether this appeal leads to lasting change, but for families from Tidibale and beyond, action cannot wait.
Internal Links
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- Sustained Troop Offensive Pushes 11 Terrorists to Surrender
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