At least five people have been killed and nine others kidnapped after gunmen loyal to notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, launched an attack on Bargaja village in Isa LGA of Sokoto State on Saturday.
The armed group reportedly struck in the early hours of the morning, shooting sporadically and abducting mostly women.
According to Daily Trust, a member of the Community Guard Corps was also injured in the raid, residents said.
Local activist, Basharu Altine Guyawa, had raised security concerns hours earlier in a social media post, warning that Turji and his fighters were on the move. According to him, the group was sighted travelling from Fadanar Tursa and Dorawar Madugu toward Dan Huntuwa, crossing the Katutu Bridge—a route linking Shinkafi and Isa LGAs. He claimed the convoy consisted of around 40 motorcycles.
Despite the alert, Guyawa alleged that security agencies and local authorities failed to take decisive action, accusing them of negligence and mismanaging funds earmarked for security.
However, the Chairman of Isa Local Government, Alhaji Sharehu Abubakar Kamarawa, rejected the allegation. He said his council immediately alerted security operatives and mobilised local guards once the threat was reported.
“Security personnel were dispatched to the reported location, but intelligence later showed that the bandits diverted to another route, which unfortunately led to the attack,” he stated.
Kamarawa confirmed that a security commander responsible for the area had been replaced following internal reviews over lapses in response coordination. He listed logistics support, fuel, and operational allowances as part of ongoing government intervention to strengthen security operations.
“We commiserate with the affected families and assure them that both the state and local governments are committed to restoring peace,” he said, praising Governor Ahmed Aliyu for recent measures, including the provision of patrol vehicles and motorcycles to frontline forces.
The attack underscores the persistent security challenges in eastern Sokoto, where armed gangs continue to target rural settlements, despite continued military operations and community-led vigilance efforts.
