- Bello Turji’s gang imposed a ₦25M levy (later reduced to ₦22M) on Sabon Birni communities as retribution for lost bandit resources.
- Villagers must raise ₦250,000 for each of the 12 abducted worshippers to secure their release.
- Local lawmakers criticize weak security and demand stronger military presence amid rising regional insecurity.
Residents in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State are under heavy pressure from notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Turji’s gang has imposed a ₦25 million levy on local communities as retaliation for the killing of one of their members and the loss of firearms during a clash with security forces. In addition, villagers are scrambling to raise ₦3 million to secure the release of 12 worshippers abducted from four different villages.
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Vanguard reported that Hon. Ibrahim Saidu Naino, representing Sabon Birni East in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, confirmed that a ransom of ₦250,000 per abducted worshipper has been set by the gang.
Naino detailed how local residents, with military assistance, engaged the bandits—killing one of them and seizing some weapons which prompted the gang to demand the levy as compensation for their losses.
“The bandits are demanding ₦25 million because they lost one of their members and some of their rifles during the fight,” Naino explained.
Hon. Aminu Boza, representing Sabon Birni West, further noted that villages such as Garin Idi—the hometown of Sokoto State Deputy Governor Idris Mohammed Gobir have also been affected.
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Boza disclosed that the levy was slightly reduced to ₦22 million after negotiations. He criticized the military for failing to maintain a consistent presence in these vulnerable areas, despite a nearby barracks in Isa town, and lamented the deteriorating security situation.
Meanwhile, five of the abducted worshippers remain in captivity as their families continue to gather the necessary ₦250,000 ransom for their release.
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