Bandit kingpin, Bello Turji has reacted after soldiers were reportedly killed in Sokoto State.

At least two soldiers were killed and several others injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) hit a military vehicle conveying troops to the Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area.

Troops were responding to a distress call after bandits attacked the community in the early hours of Saturday, the report said.

Turji said in a video released after the incident that he was happy some of his enemies had been killed.

“We thank Allah for letting us witness this Saturday, June 20, he said.

“Allah has blessed us with 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.

“We have killed a few of them and we have successfully retrieved our livestock from their hands.

The claims made in the video could not be independently verified at the time of this report.

New Weapons Concerns
New security concerns Meanwhile, Sokoto-based activist, Basharu Altine Guyawa Isa, alleged that Turji was strengthening his fighters and acquiring new weapons along the Sokoto-Zamfara border.

Basharu in a Facebook post alleged that Turji’s fighters were holding meetings and training in arms in communities from Bingabale Kudu to Bafarawa East and Bargaja.

He said fighters new to the area linked to Boko Haram had come to the area to train Turji’s men.

Basharu also accused some bandit commanders of helping Turji to acquire and transport weapons.

He said the development could be in preparation for coordinated attacks on five local government headquarters in eastern Sokoto before the peak of the rainy season.

Hours after making the allegations, the activist posted a video on Facebook that he claimed showed some of the newly acquired weapons in Turji’s possession.