Residents of Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State have raised alarm over worsening attacks by armed men reportedly linked to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
The villagers say the violence has become unbearable after the attackers allegedly ordered them to leave their homes or face death, forcing many families to flee.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
According to local sources, the attackers stormed the farming community around 1:30 a.m. last Sunday, triggering panic among residents.
A viral video circulating online shows women and children hurriedly boarding a truck with their belongings as they attempted to escape the area.
In the video, a distressed resident speaking in Hausa said the community had suffered repeated attacks and killings.
He lamented that villagers were leaving because the terrorists had threatened to kill them if they remained in the town.
Security analyst Bashiru Altine Giyawa confirmed the incident and explained that the community had long resisted bandit attacks.
Local vigilantes reportedly engaged the attackers in a gun battle while trying to defend the village.
Unfortunately, two vigilantes were killed during the confrontation. They were identified as:
• Umaru Biri
• Garba Mumminu
Following the attack, the Garrison Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division reportedly met with residents and urged them not to abandon the community.
The military assured villagers that security would be strengthened to protect them from further attacks.
However, many residents remain skeptical, saying they have endured years of violence, kidnappings, and livestock theft.
Bargaja was once known for strong agricultural production, particularly:
• Sweet potatoes
• Soya beans
• Livestock farming
But repeated bandit attacks have forced many farmers to abandon their fields, leaving families struggling to survive.
Women and children are said to be the most affected, as displacement has limited access to food, education, and healthcare.
The attack highlights the continuing security crisis in Nigeria’s northwest, especially in Sokoto, Zamfara, and parts of Kaduna, where armed bandit groups have carried out kidnappings, killings, and village raids for several years.
