NOTORIOUS bandit kingpin Bello Turji has spoken publicly following the killing of soldiers in Sokoto State, while fresh allegations have emerged that the feared warlord is strengthening his fighting force and acquiring new weapons along the Sokoto-Zamfara border.
News Point Nigeria reports that at least two soldiers were reportedly killed and several others injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded on a military vehicle conveying troops to Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The troops were said to be responding to a distress call following a bandit attack on the community in the early hours of Saturday.
Residents told Daily Trust that armed bandits invaded the village between 12:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., shooting sporadically and forcing residents to seek military intervention.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the attackers planted an IED along the Isa-Bargaja road before the arrival of the troops.
Following the incident, Turji released a video in which he expressed satisfaction over what he described as the killing of some of his enemies.
“We thank Allah for allowing us to witness this Saturday, June 20. After thanking Allah, in this country of ours, Nigeria, especially in some areas where we have been facing constant challenges,” Turji said in the video.
“God willing, Allah has granted us victory over those who have been rustling our livestock and killing our innocent brothers in some local government areas including Isa, Zamfara, Sokoto State, Sabon Birni and other local government areas around.
“Allah granted us victory over these people carrying out operations against us and taking away our livestock. We have succeeded in killing some of them, and we have successfully recovered our livestock from their hands,” he added.
However, the claims contained in the Facebook posts and accompanying video could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, new security concerns have surfaced following a Facebook post and subsequent video shared by Basharu Altine Guyawa Isa, the Sokoto State Coordinator of the Movement for Social Justice and Good Governance.
In the post, Basharu alleged that Turji was expanding his military capabilities and acquiring fresh weapons in communities located along the Sokoto-Zamfara border.
According to him, Turji’s fighters, including Illa Manawa and Bomi, whom he identified as Turji’s younger brother, were holding a gathering in the area stretching from Bingabale Kudu through Bafarawa East and Bargaja, near the Sokoto-Zamfara border.
The activist alleged that the group was conducting weapons training and tactical exercises using newly acquired arms, including some of the sophisticated weapons reportedly deployed during recent confrontations with security forces operating in the region.
He further claimed that preliminary findings suggested the weapons formed part of a fresh consignment recently procured by the group.
Basharu also alleged that newly arrived fighters believed to have links to Boko Haram had entered the area and were helping to train and strengthen Turji’s fighters.
According to him, the new arrivals possessed advanced combat and weapons-handling expertise and were participating in exercises taking place in communities located along the border corridor between Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The activist further claimed that intelligence gathered from sources in Binchi indicated that a night-vision device allegedly purchased by Turji last week was among the newly delivered equipment moved to his camp.
He also alleged that Kachalla Haru Dole and Kachalla Ibrahim Chimo, whom he described as commanders operating large bandit camps beyond the Maradun River, were connected to the acquisition and movement of the weapons.
According to Basharu, the two commanders played significant roles in facilitating the delivery of the arms alongside Turji.
The activist further claimed that investigations were uncovering details of what he described as a growing alliance between Chimo and Turji.
He alleged that the relationship formed part of a broader strategy aimed at expanding their operational influence across eastern Sokoto.
Basharu expressed concern that the alliance could be linked to preparations for coordinated attacks targeting the headquarters of five local government areas in the region before the peak of the rainy season.
He added that more details would emerge as investigations continued into the alleged alliance, the movement of weapons and the broader security implications for communities across eastern Sokoto.
Hours after making the allegations, the activist shared another video on Facebook on Sunday morning, which he claimed showed some of the newly acquired weapons in Turji’s possession.
In a follow-up post accompanying the footage, Basharu alleged that the video was released by Turji on June 20, 2026, and contained visuals of some of the weapons referenced in his earlier report.
He further claimed that Turji used the footage to highlight what he described as successes recorded against security forces operating along the Isa-Bargaja axis.
As of the time of filing this report, the allegations regarding the acquisition of new weapons, the presence of Boko Haram-linked fighters and the purported alliance involving Turji could not be independently verified.
Efforts to obtain official comments from the Sokoto State Police Command were unsuccessful.
Calls, text messages and WhatsApp messages sent to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.