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At least 28 villages have been abandoned due to continuous assaults by brigands, mainly factions aligned with the infamous criminal leader Bello Turji, in Tidibale village and the nearby areas within Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

According to sources, Daily Trust reported that the assaults compelled locals to abandon their residences and move to Isa town, the administrative center of the local government, where they are now seeking refuge as internally displaced persons (IDPs) at a public secondary school and other makeshift sites.

The villages impacted are: Mansalo, Tidibale Dangulbi, Tuwon Takawa, Yar kurori, Dogon Bedi, Jimbama, Gidan-Rana, Kwannawa, Tafkin Gabas, Gidan-Kara, Chohi, Yisirawa, Duma, Tagirke, Adarawa, and Gidan Dikko, along with others.

The affected residents stated that they have abandoned their villages to protect their lives because of murders, abductions, unauthorized taxes, and ongoing assaults by criminals in their areas.

An internally displaced person, who wished to remain anonymous, stated, “We fled our villages to protect our lives. Bandits from various groups kept demanding large taxes from us. Every time they arrived in our villages, they killed, abducted, and injured people.”

He mentioned that regular life had entirely broken down in the impacted areas.

“We don’t have any shops, we can’t worship freely in our mosques, and we don’t own any livestock. Even when a child is born, there’s no animal to sacrifice,” he said.

A local from Kwangami village mentioned that the situation deteriorated because of years of mandatory payments to robbers.

“For nearly four years, families were required to pay N3,000 each week. There were instances when we paid between N1 million and N4 million in taxes,” he stated.

As per his statement, even with the payments, seven residents remain captive with the bandits.

He claimed that the most recent displacement came after the bandits accused villagers of working with security forces following the deaths of some members from Turji’s group.

“They claimed we were collaborating with security agents. How can we refer to security personnel when we don’t even have contact with them?” he questioned.

A person living in Isa town, who wished to remain unnamed, verified the arrival of displaced individuals from the Tidibale, Tsabre, Kurar Mota, and Girnashe areas, noting that numerous people had left in fear of retaliatory assaults.

“A few days ago, soldiers and vigilantes on a regular patrol near Tidibale came across and killed some bandits who were loyal to Turji. Following this, people from Tidibale and nearby areas began abandoning their homes out of concern that the bandits might take revenge,” the source stated.

He mentioned that numerous displaced individuals had moved to Isa town, with some finding refuge in schools.

“Currently, our town is extremely packed,” he stated.

A different displaced individual mentioned the extent of the displacement was enormous, stating that more than 10,000 people had left the Tidibale axis, with dozens of vehicles being used to transport residents from the remaining villages.

“We utilized over 200 vehicles to move our families. The bandits prevented us from carrying food items or necessary possessions,” he stated.

In the IDP camp, the displaced people expressed dissatisfaction with the inadequate living circumstances and the absence of food and additional assistance from the government and other parties.

He mentioned that, in addition to a private individual named Amadu Sani, who provided 100 bags of maize and some cassava flour, no further aid had been received.

“Many individuals didn’t receive anything from the food that was distributed,” he stated.

A different inhabitant from Chohi village, who reached the camp on Tuesday night, expressed sorrow over the absence of housing and adequate shelter.

“We don’t have sufficient space. The classrooms are already full. A lot of individuals are wandering the streets of Isa as they have no other place to go,” he stated.

A security expert from Isa, Alhaji Basharu Altine Guyawa, linked the mass departure to a recent threat reportedly made by Turji, demanding locals leave their areas or risk being killed.

As per Guyawa, Turji is said to have intimidated the impacted communities and killed three individuals from Tidibale who refused to depart, maintaining that the region was their ancestral land.

He stated that the development led the head of the local government area to arrange the transfer of affected residents to Isa town for their protection.

A different security expert from Sokoto, Bashir Guyawa Isa, mentioned that the ongoing displacement along the Tidibale axis is a result of the lack of security personnel, adding that armed factions frequently reorganize after military forces leave the region.

Isha stated, “If appropriate steps are not taken to address the issue of insecurity in the region, displaced people will continue to be hesitant about returning to their villages.”

Upon being reached, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, verified the incident, stating that the command was expecting a comprehensive report from the Divisional Police Officer responsible for the region.

The security advisor to the Sokoto State Governor, Lt. Col. Ahmed Usman Rtd, did not provide a response to the request for commentary.

Outlaws took control of two areas within my electoral district

– Sokoto lawmaker

A representative from the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Hon. Habibu Halilu Modachi, has sounded the alarm, stating that bandits have taken control of three wards within the Isa Local Government Area, compelling locals to leave their homes.

A representative from the Isa constituency, named Modachi, made statements a few days following reports of a large-scale departure from various communities in the region, linking the movement to ongoing attacks by bandits.

“At this moment, three of my constituencies are abandoned because of piracy. All the villages in these areas are vacant,” the politician said to our reporter over the phone on Tuesday.

He expressed sorrow that people in Isa and the nearby Sabon Birni Local Government Area were experiencing ongoing terror, maintaining that reports of enhanced safety in those regions were deceptive.

“Anyone who claims that the security conditions in Isa and Sabon Birni have improved is either not from these regions or is lying for their own benefit. There has been absolutely no improvement. Our community continues to live in constant fear, as they could be attacked at any moment,” he stated.

Modachi mentioned a recent assault on the Bargaja community, in which rebels allegedly killed two individuals, including the elder brother of a judge from the Sokoto State High Court, and took four others hostage.

He urged the security agencies to increase their efforts and provide quicker responses to emergency calls.

“We expect our security personnel to fulfill their duties. They must act quickly when there is a warning,” he stated.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).