New worries in Sokoto as bandits reportedly train with weapons

Fresh worries about violence have come up in Sokoto State. A civil society group says that bandits loyal to a well-known leader, Bello Turji, are training with weapons near the Sokoto-Zamfara border.

This claim raises fears that the bandits are getting stronger despite ongoing military actions in the area.

Basharu Altine, the Sokoto State coordinator for the Movement for Social Justice and Good Governance, shared this information in an intelligence report. According to the report, the training is happening in communities from Bingabale Kudu to Bafarawa East and Bargaja.

These areas have seen many attacks by armed groups and ongoing security operations in recent years.

Mr. Altine said that some of Turji’s close associates, like Illa Manawa and Dodo, who is believed to be Turji's younger brother, are running the training. He claimed that bandits from this group are going through military-style exercises with new weapons. Some of these weapons were said to be used in recent clashes with security forces.

“Our findings suggest that these fighters are currently engaged in weapons training and tactical exercises using newly acquired arms, including some of the same sophisticated weapons reportedly deployed during recent confrontations with security forces,” Mr. Altine mentioned.

The report also said that a new shipment of weapons had recently arrived in the area. It mentioned that new fighters with advanced skills in combat and weapons handling are also joining the bandits.

According to Mr. Altine, intelligence gathered by his group suggests that some of the new fighters might have connections to insurgent groups. They are believed to have been brought in to boost Turji’s activities across border communities in Sokoto and Zamfara states.

“There are indications that some of the new arrivals possess advanced combat and weapons-handling expertise. Their mission, according to sources, is to train and strengthen Turji’s fighters operating within the border communities of Sokoto and Zamfara states,” he added.

The activist also said that night-vision devices allegedly acquired by Turji are now part of the equipment at their camps. He further claimed that two suspected bandit commanders, Haru Dole and Ibrahim Chimo, are crucial in moving the weapons.

He stated that investigations are revealing a growing relationship between Mr. Chimo and Turji. The report warned that this partnership could create more security problems for communities in eastern Sokoto.

Bandit attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling have continued in this area, despite military operations. Mr. Altine said that intelligence reports show efforts to broaden the group's influence and possibly target local government offices before the rainy season begins.

“There are growing concerns that the alliance forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen their operational presence across eastern Sokoto. Intelligence sources have expressed fears that coordinated attacks may be planned against some local government headquarters before the peak of the rainy season,” he noted.

He urged security agencies to increase surveillance in the affected areas. He called for proactive steps to check the intelligence and stop any potential attacks.

These claims come at a time when many communities in eastern Sokoto are facing insecurity from banditry and cross-border crime. In recent months, residents in Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Rabah, and nearby areas have reported repeated attacks, kidnappings, and displacements caused by armed groups in the Sokoto-Zamfara region.

Security agencies are still working to target camps linked to Mr. Turji and other bandit leaders in the North-west. Mr. Turji is one of the most notorious bandit leaders in the region and is linked to many attacks in Sokoto, Zamfara, and nearby states.

As of now, the military and police have not made any official statement about these allegations. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the claims in the report. The newspaper also could not reach security authorities for comments on the allegations.