Four years after the military declared him wanted alongside 18 other terrorists and put a N5m bounty on his head, notorious terrorist leader, Bello Turji, who never relented in his murderous activities, last Sunday literally sacked the Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto state. 32-year-old terror kingpin who was born and raised in the pastoral Fulani settlements of the Shinkaffi community in Zamfara, terrorised the North Western part of Nigeria, particularly Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger states for two decades.
Last Monday, a very disturbing short video clip circulated online showing hundreds of desperate women and children of the Bargaja community struggling to board a truck with their belongings. They were fleeing their homes following persistent attacks from terrorists linked to notorious Bello Turji, who had warned them to leave the town, or they would all be killed.
In the chaotic situation of the fleeing residents falling on each other trying to board the vehicle to escape the wrath of Bello Turji, a male voice could be heard speaking in Hausa language in the video saying, “The terrorists kept attacking us and killing us, we are tired, and we are leaving the town. Even today (Sunday, March 15), we were attacked, and some of us were killed, but the government is doing nothing. Since the terrorists have asked us to leave the town, we are leaving already, may God intervene”.
Local sources said the attackers stormed the community at about 1:30 a.m on Sunday, triggering panic as villagers fled to safer locations, including Sokoto metropolis and nearby communities.
A security analyst, Bashiru Altine Giyawa, who confirmed the attack, said Bargaja had been one of the few communities in the area that consistently resisted attacks by armed men loyal to Bello Turji. He said local vigilantes engaged the attackers in a gun duel while attempting to repel the invasion. According to him, “the vigilante group confronted the bandits in a fierce exchange of gunfire. Unfortunately, two vigilantes lost their lives during the confrontation,” Giyawa said.
The vigilante men who were said to have died from gunshot wounds sustained during the attack were identified as Umaru Biri and Garba Mumminu.
Eyewitnesses described the situation in Bargaja as tense, saying that persistent attacks linked to Turji’s camp have led to repeated killings and displacement in the area.
