Following the death of one of his men during a military operation in Sokoto State, infamous bandit leader Bello Turji has imposed a N22 million levy on four communities in the state.
According to a report, locals said the levy is meant to compensate for missing firearms during the raid.
According to the report, Aminu Boza, a lawmaker from the Sokoto House of Assembly who represents Sabon Birni West, named Garin Idi, the hometown of the state’s deputy governor, Idris Gobir, as one of the affected communities.
Boza said that Turji has moved his base to the eastern section of Sokoto’s Isa LGA.
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“He is just like a businessman who has multiple shops and is going around to supervise them. He is currently in the eastern part of Isa,” Daily Trust quoted the lawmaker as saying.
“That was where the villagers met him for negotiation, and he reduced the money from N25 million to N22 million.”
The lawmaker berated the military for failing to sustain operations in the area, saying their withdrawal leaves villages vulnerable to attacks.
“I have always criticised the military for not sustaining their operation in the eastern part of Sokoto because anytime they withdraw, it is the villages that bear the brunt,” he added.
“Because the bandits always vent their anger on the villagers.
“The Minister of Defence has visited Sokoto about four times and assured our people that banditry would soon be a thing of the past.
“But look at it, the bandits are still attacking our people. A few days ago, they killed six operatives of the Sokoto community guards.
“I am appealing to the military to intensify and sustain their operation in the eastern part of Sokoto. This is the only way to restore total peace in the area.”
Boza added that Turji is demanding N250,000 from each family of the 13 worshippers abducted in Sabon Birni LGA about two weeks ago.
“They have so far released five captives after their families paid the money,” he said.
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