‘Leave by 4pm or Die’: Bello Turji’s Deadly Warning Forces Sokoto Communities to Flee

The shadow of fear has grown darker over Isa Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State, where terrified residents are fleeing their homes in droves. The latest panic stems from chilling threats issued by the notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, who remains one of Nigeria’s most wanted criminals.

In the last 72 hours, a wave of displacement has hit communities in Bafarawa, Arume, Gebe, and Kamarawa. Residents say Turji sent out a clear and terrifying ultimatum to nearby villages—Kamara, Arume, and Kagara—ordering them to evacuate by 4:00 p.m. on Sunday or face grave consequences.

“This is no empty threat. We know what Turji is capable of. We left with only the clothes on our backs,” said Malam Shehu, a displaced elder from Bafarawa now taking refuge in a nearby village.

Turji’s name has become synonymous with fear across northwest Nigeria, and his threats are rarely ignored. What often follows is a dreadful silence—one that precedes violence and devastation.

Local reports indicate that at least three districts in Isa LGA are now in panic, with families, farmers, and traders fleeing en masse to avoid potential bloodshed.

“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.

Residents have voiced deep disappointment at what they describe as a nonchalant and ineffective government response. Many believe Turji operates with the backing or protection of unnamed powerbrokers, a suspicion that is breeding distrust and anger.

“There’s no way a man this dangerous should be moving freely. The silence of the authorities is deafening,” said Amina Yusuf, a civil society advocate based in Sokoto.

The ripple effects are vast. Besides Bafarawa and the named villages, others like Surudubu, Tsullawa, and Garin Fadama are also bracing for impact. Schools have shut down, markets are abandoned, and families are left in limbo, their lives shattered.

While the government has promised security reinforcements, locals remain unconvinced. Past promises have yielded little real protection or deterrence against these 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?” asked Hajiya Rabi, a mother of five who escaped from Arume.

Civil society groups, human rights defenders, and religious leaders have added their voices to the growing call for urgent intervention, warning that if the situation continues unchecked, the region could tip into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.

As fear tightens its grip on the once-thriving towns of Isa LGA, one question echoes from the displaced and terrified: how many more lives must be uprooted before the reign of Bello Turji is brought to an end?