ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Stakeholders from the eastern senatorial district of Sokoto State have appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria and security agencies to urgently intervene following renewed threats of attacks allegedly issued by notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, against several communities in the area.
The call followed the circulation of videos on social media showing residents of Tidibale and neighbouring communities fleeing their homes after purported threats from Turji and his fighters, a development that has heightened fear and insecurity across the zone.
Confirming the situation, the Secretary of the Sokoto Eastern Zone Development Association, Mr Muazu Shamaki, said the trend of mass displacement had subjected residents to severe hardship, noting that the problem had persisted for some time.
According to Shamaki, no fewer than 20 settlements have been affected by the threats, with many residents abandoning their ancestral homes in search of safety.
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He said displaced villagers were hopeful that decisive action by security agencies would help push back the terrorists and allow them to return to their communities.
Also speaking, Malam Bashar Guyawa-Isa disclosed that some affected residents had fled across the border into neighbouring Niger Republic communities to escape the looming attacks.
He appealed for swift government intervention, warning that many communities had already been deserted and that prolonged inaction could worsen the humanitarian situation.
“There is widespread fear among residents of different communities following repeated threats by Turji and his group,” Guyawa-Isa said.
The growing insecurity has forced many villagers to flee their homes, with unverified videos circulating online showing residents escaping in overloaded vehicles and motorcycles.
Meanwhile, there have been reports that some bandits relocated to other parts of the country following the bombardment of terrorist camps in Sokoto State by the United States in December 2025.
The Federal Government had earlier confirmed that the airstrikes were carried out as part of a joint Nigeria–United States operation targeting Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves in the state.
According to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, a total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms during the operation.
Idris explained that debris from the expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel premises.
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He, however, stressed that no civilian casualties were recorded in either location and that relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas.
The minister said the strikes, which took place between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Friday, December 26, 2025, were authorised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking earlier on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Idris emphasised that the operation was a joint effort between Nigeria and the United States.
“Now that the US is cooperating, we are doing it jointly, and it must be clear that this operation is not targeting any religion,” he said.
Despite the military operations, residents of eastern Sokoto communities continue to express fear over renewed threats by Bello Turji, urging authorities to sustain security efforts to prevent further displacement and loss of lives.