Mass Exodus as bandit kingpin Turji expels more villagers
Long lines of refugees have been snaking into Shinkafi after notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji gave four villages an ultimatum to vacate their communities before 4pm today.
The affected communities are Bafarawa, Arume, Gebe, and Kamarawa in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Reports from the area said the displaced villagers have been streaming on foot into the town with no idea of where to go or what to do.
“It is quite a pity how people including the aged, sick and children are streaming into Shinkafi from the communities Bello Turji directed them to evacuate without knowing where to go.
“There is no way any responsible person will see these people and not shed tears. The children are just crying from exhaustion and hunger, the elderly are just trudging on looking sickly and hungry, some could not even walk and had to be carried by relatives
“So far, there hasn’t been any coordinated response from the government, and the refugees are everywhere in the town,” a resident of Shinkafi told The Syndicate.
Reports quoted one of the displaced resident of Bafarawa, Malam Shehu as saying that they had to leave because they knew it was not an empty threat.
“This is no empty threat. We know what Turji is capable of doing. We left with only the clothes on our backs,” he added.
Turji’s renewed threats have sparked panic across at least three districts in Isa local government area apart from the affected communities.
“This is beyond just another attack. These threats are calculated, organized, and carried out with impunity. If the government continues to look away, more communities will fall under siege,” said Musa Abdullahi, a resident who fled from Kagara.
“There’s no way a man this dangerous should be moving freely. The silence of the authorities is deafening,” Amina Yusuf, a civil society advocate said.
“The impact is far-reaching. Aside from Bafarawa and the named villages, others such as Surudubu, Tsullawa, and Garin Fadama are also reportedly on edge. Entire communities now face an uncertain future as schools close, markets are deserted, and livelihoods are destroyed.”
Despite assurances of security deployments, residents remain skeptical with many arguing that previous interventions have failed to provide meaningful protection or deter further attacks.
“What we need is not just presence but action. People are dying, and homes are being burnt. What more will it take for the authorities to act decisively?” Hajiya Rabi, a mother of five who escaped from Arume said.
