Tension Grips Sokoto Villages as Alleged Turji Fighters Seen in Weapons Training Exercises
Communities across eastern Sokoto State are reporting heightened tension following fresh claims that armed fighters associated with notorious bandit leader Bello Turji have been seen conducting weapons training and tactical exercises in parts of Isa Local Government Area.
Local accounts and security-linked sources say the activity is occurring in several remote border settlements, including Bingabale, Bafarawa, Bargaja and Gebe, areas that have long been affected by recurring bandit attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling along the Sokoto–Zamfara corridor.
Residents describe the development as another troubling escalation in an already fragile security environment, where many communities have experienced repeated displacement and disrupted livelihoods over the years.
Unverified reports from local observers allege that the fighters are using newly acquired weapons during drills, with some claims pointing to increased organization and the possible arrival of additional armed recruits in the area.
These claims have not been independently confirmed by security authorities.
Some local commentary circulating online also suggests that the group may be strengthening its operational capacity with new equipment, including tools for night movement and surveillance. Officials have not commented on these assertions.
A local activist who shared the information on social media further alleged that intelligence from the region indicates coordination among multiple armed figures operating across Sokoto and Zamfara border communities.
He warned that such developments could signal a broader attempt to expand attacks in the region, though his claims remain unverified.
The same source also posted a video said to show weapons allegedly in circulation among the fighters. The authenticity, timing and location of the footage have not been confirmed.
Bello Turji has in the past been linked by authorities and residents to multiple violent incidents across northwestern Nigeria, particularly in Sokoto and Zamfara States.
Despite repeated military operations and public vows to dismantle armed networks in the region, attacks attributed to his group have continued intermittently.
In previous incidents in the area, armed gangs have carried out night raids on villages, triggered security responses, and engaged troops in ambushes involving explosives and heavy gunfire, leaving both civilian and security casualties.
Security agencies have not issued a formal statement on the latest allegations of renewed training activity, but sources indicate that intelligence is being reviewed and surveillance has been stepped up in affected border communities.
For now, fear remains high among residents, many of whom say the situation reflects a continuing cycle of violence that has proven difficult to contain despite sustained military pressure in the region.
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