Banditry: Turji imposes ₦25m levy on villages

Bandit leader, Bello Turji was reportedly spotted in Kalage Forest, Mashema Region, Eastern Kagara, Zamfara State

A Sokoto State lawmaker, Aminu Boza, has informed the Nigerian Army that bandits’ kingpin, Bello Turji, has imposed a ₦25 million levy on villages after he was sighted in the Isa Local Government forest of Sokoto State.

The lawmaker, who represents Sabon Birni Local Government in the State House of Assembly, confirmed to newsmen that the notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has been sighted in eastern Sokoto, where he is currently regrouping.

Boza, therefore, urged security operatives to invade the forest to checkmate future attacks from the bandit, who has continued to evade security details for months now.

“Bello Turji is currently in the Isa and Sabon Birni axis of Sokoto. He has even imposed a ₦25 million levy per village in some communities,” Boza claimed. The lawmaker urged security agencies and local authorities to intensify operations against bandits, Boza told newsmen.

Meanwhile, security forces in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of a notorious arms trafficker, identified as Hamza Suruddubu, who has been allegedly supplying weapons to terrorist groups operating in the region.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that Suruddubu, an arms dealer from eastern Sokoto, has long been involved in the trafficking and distribution of weapons from Zamfara State to terrorist strongholds in eastern Sokoto.

He is believed to be a key supplier of firearms to notorious bandits, including Bello Turji, Boka, and Halilu Buzu. Investigations indicate that Suruddubu not only supplies weapons but also facilitates the provision of essential supplies, including foodstuffs and motorcycles, for criminal groups operating in the region.

The sources further disclosed that some security operatives within Shinkafi and Isa Local Government Areas may be complicit in the illegal arms trade. Community leaders and security stakeholders have urged law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate Suruddubu’s network and uncover the full extent of arms smuggling operations between Isa and Sabon Birni.