Bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, has spoken after the killing of soldiers in Sokoto State.
News had reported how at least two soldiers were killed and several others sustained injuries after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded on a military vehicle conveying troops to Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The troops were said to be responding to a distress call following a bandit attack on the community in the early hours of Saturday.
Residents told Reporters that bandits invaded the village between 12:30am and 3:00am, shooting sporadically, forcing residents to seek military intervention.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the attackers planted an IED along the Isa-Bargaja road before the arrival of the troops.
In a video, which Turji released after the incident, the bandit warlord said he was excited that some of his enemies had been killed.
“We thank Allah for allowing us to witness this Saturday, June 20. After thanking Allah, in this country of ours, Nigeria, especially in some areas where we have been facing constant challenges.”
“God willing, Allah has granted us victory over those who have been rustling our livestock and killing our innocent brothers in some local government areas including Isa, Zamfara, Sokoto State, Sabon Birni and other local government areas around.
“Allah granted us victory over these people carrying out operations against us and taking away our livestock. We have succeeded in killing some of them, and we have successfully recovered our livestock from their hands.”
The claims contained in the Facebook posts and accompanying video could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, there are fresh security concerns following a Facebook post and subsequent video shared by Basharu Altine Guyawa Isa, Sokoto State Coordinator of the Movement for Social Justice and Good Governance, alleging that notorious Turji is strengthening his fighting force and acquiring new weapons in communities along the Sokoto-Zamfara border.
In a Facebook post published on Saturday, Basharu alleged that Turji’s fighters, including Illa Manawa and Bomi, identified as Turji’s younger brother, were holding a gathering in the area stretching from Bingabale Kudu through Bafarawa East and Bargaja, near the Sokoto-Zamfara border.
According to him, the group was conducting weapons training and tactical exercises using newly acquired arms, including some of the sophisticated weapons allegedly deployed during recent confrontations with security forces operating in the region.
He claimed that preliminary findings suggested the weapons formed part of a fresh consignment recently procured by the group.
The activist further alleged that newly arrived fighters believed to have links to Boko Haram and possessing advanced combat and weapons-handling expertise had entered the area to train and strengthen Turji’s fighters.
According to the post, the exercises were taking place in communities located along the border corridor between Sokoto and Zamfara states.
Basharu also claimed that intelligence gathered from sources in Binchi indicated that a night-vision device allegedly purchased by Turji last week formed part of the newly delivered equipment recently moved to his camp.
He further alleged that Kachalla Haru Dole and Kachalla Ibrahim Chimo, whom he described as commanders operating large bandit camps beyond the Maradun River, were linked to the acquisition and movement of the weapons.
According to him, the two commanders played significant roles in facilitating the delivery of the arms alongside Turji.
The activist also claimed that investigations were uncovering details of a growing alliance between Chimo and Turji, which he alleged formed part of a broader strategy aimed at expanding their operational influence across eastern Sokoto.
He expressed concern that the alliance could be part of preparations for coordinated attacks targeting the headquarters of five local government areas in the region before the peak of the rainy season.
Basharu said further details would emerge as investigations continued into the alleged alliance, the movement of the weapons and the wider security implications for communities across eastern Sokoto.
Hours after making the allegations, the activist on Sunday morning shared a video on Facebook which he claimed showed some of the newly acquired weapons in Turji’s possession.
In a follow-up post accompanying the footage, Basharu alleged that the video was released by Turji on June 20, 2026, and contained visuals of some of the weapons referenced in his earlier report.
He further claimed that Turji used the video to highlight what he described as successes recorded against security forces operating along the Isa-Bargaja axis.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Sokoto State Police Command were unsuccessful as call, text and WhatsApp messages sent to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
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