Fresh threats from notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, have triggered widespread fear and panic across some communities in the North West, especially in Sokoto.
With killings and kidnapping still ongoing in Zamfara State, it was gathered that in Sokoto East Senatorial Zone, particularly in the Isa local government area, many people have deserted the area as a result of Turji’s threat.
Residents of Bafarawa town have reportedly fled their homes following Turji’s latest threat.
According to local sources, the bandit kingpin issued an ultimatum to neighbouring communities, namely Kamara, Arume, and Kagara, warning them to vacate their villages by 4p.m. on Sunday or face deadly consequences.
Isa LGA has long been one of the hard-hit areas by banditry in Sokoto State, with Turji at the centre of numerous violent attacks that have left communities devastated.
In addition to Bafarawa, other villages reportedly affected by similar threats include Surudubu, Gebe, Tsullawa, and Garin Fadama, all now facing an uncertain future amid escalating insecurity.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Command, ASP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed that security operatives had been deployed to the affected areas.
“Although we have not received any formal complaint regarding the incident, our officers have been on the ground for the past three days and are prepared to address any threat to peace and security,” Rufai stated.
Retired Teacher, Wife, 2 Others Abducted
In Zamfara State, the Police Command has confirmed the killing of a retired secondary school teacher and the abduction of his wife along with two other women who were attacked by bandits at the staff quarters of the Government Secondary School, Tsafe, in Zamfara State.
It was reported that bandits stormed the staff quarters of Government Secondary School, Tsafe, at about 3:45am Sunday, killing the retired teacher following his refusal to obey their directives in the process of the abduction.
A resident of the area who seeks anonymity said he heard gunfire coming from the quarters in the early morning,
“Later, after the situation remained silent, we came out to find out that the bandits had killed the man living at the staff quarters of the Secondary School, identified as Malam Kabiru, and kidnapped the three women, including his wife.
“We were shocked last night during the bandits’ attacks; as a result, the entire area couldn’t have rest of mind.
“The victim, who was known as Mallam Kabiru, a retired teacher, it was learnt, was killed by the bandits as he resisted abduction and they instantly shot him dead.”
The spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, DSP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the incident to LEADERSHIP through a telephone interview.
According to DSP Yazid, the bandits stormed the premises of the secondary school on Sunday night, where they killed the victim and kidnapped the three women, including his wife.
“They wanted to abduct him, but he resisted; that was why they decided to kill him instead of his wife, and the bandits later took away two other women.”
He further disclosed that police tactical squads and other security operatives have been deployed to the area and are pursuing the attackers.
“Troops have been mobilised and are on the trail of the kidnappers. I assure you the victims will be rescued unharmed,” he added.
Fresh Attack On Benue Communities, 23 Farmers Killed
Over 23 farmers across four local governments in Benue State were reportedly killed between Friday and Saturday in a fresh attack by armed men suspected to be bandits.
The four local governments are Logo, Kwande, Ukum and Guma.
Our correspondent gathered that the herders who invaded Jootar, a boundary community between Benue and Taraba in the early hours of Saturday, shot at anyone in sight, killing eight farmers on the spot.
In a telephone interview with a local in the area who identified himself as Tornger Linus, he explained that the victims were reportedly attacked on their way to their farms early in the morning.
“The farmers were killed on their way to the farm. However, we have a boundary problem with Jukun, so we cannot outrightly say the killers were armed herders or the Jukun militia.”
Our correspondent reports that Jootar is a border community between Taraba and Benue state, which has been a flashpoint of conflict between the Tiv and Jukun ethnic groups and even herders.
He named the farmers killed in Jootar as Jonathan Ordooga, Aondogu Torse,
Cheater Torse,Yagba Torse,Tersugh Mbaaiiga, Terhemen Emmanuel, Henenshima Apirgwa and Orfega Atuku.
Similarly, nine farmers were killed in Logo, while three each were killed in Kwande and Guma, bringing the total number of casualties to 23, with several others missing.
The Benue State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism Mathew Abo, who confirmed the Jootar killings, said: “I got a report from Ukum which is my local government, precisely Jootar, that eight farmers who were on their way to their farms in the early hours of Saturday were killed”.
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