Notorios Bandit kingpin Turji resurfaces kills 11 Residents in fresh attack
Notorios Bandit kingpin Turji resurfaces kills 11 Residents in fresh attack
In a brutal act of violence, notorious bandit kingpin Kachalla Bello Turji has claimed the lives of 11 farmers in Lugu town, located in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The killings occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, following Turji’s return from a Sallah visit to a community in Isa.
According to local sources, Turji and his men had been tracked by intelligence reports, which indicated that the bandit leader was planning to visit the eastern part of Gatawa in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
The intelligence had been shared with authorities since Saturday, but it appears no significant action was taken in time to prevent the attack.
Basharu Altine Giyawa, a resident of Isa, told Daily Trust that Turji, after celebrating Sallah in a local community, returned to his base in Fakai, Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, passing through several Isa communities.
During this return trip, Turji and his gang carried out the deadly attack on the unsuspecting farmers.
“We were aware of Turji’s plans and had informed the authorities, but he went unchecked, and innocent farmers paid the price for this failure,” Giyawa said, expressing frustration over the lack of timely intervention.
Hon. Aminu Boza, a representative from the Sokoto State House of Assembly, confirmed that the authorities had received the intelligence and taken steps to prevent the visit.
However, he denied that Turji had visited any communities in his jurisdiction during Sallah. Boza suggested that Turji’s fury over the security measures in Sabon Birni may have led to his deadly retaliation on the farmers in Isa.
In an additional twist, reports surfaced that Turji made a stop at Tozai village, where he killed the leader of the local vigilante group before continuing his rampage.
Turji has long been a target of security forces for his role in terrorizing communities across Zamfara, Sokoto, and parts of Katsina states.
The Nigerian military, which has declared him a wanted criminal, vowed in February 2025 through Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede that efforts would intensify to eliminate the bandit leader.
