Sokoto Residents Flee to Niger Republic

The shadow of terror cast by the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has triggered a desperate humanitarian crisis in the northern reaches of Sokoto State. Residents of Isa Local Government Area are currently braving life-threatening journeys to cross the border into the Niger Republic, choosing the uncertainty of exile over the imminent threat of death at home. This exodus follows a series of renewed threats and violent incursions by gunmen loyal to Turji, whose grip on the region has reached a suffocating peak.

For the people of these border communities, the decision to leave is not born of a desire for adventure but of absolute necessity. The Secretary of the Sokoto Eastern Zone Development Association, Professor Muazu Shamaki, has highlighted the scale of the displacement, noting that the flight began in earnest last Friday. The trigger was a direct threat issued by Turji against settlements surrounding Tidibali, a hub within the council that has now become a ghost town.

According to Shamaki, more than 20 settlements across various parts of the local government area have been completely evacuated. The fear is so palpable that residents have flooded local government headquarters to lodge complaints, only to find that the official response often lags behind the speed of the bandits’ motorcycles. With little faith in immediate protection, many have turned their eyes toward the border, packing what little they can carry to seek refuge in a foreign land.

The journey into the Niger Republic is fraught with peril. Families are navigating hazardous terrains, often traveling under the cover of darkness to avoid detection by the very bandits they are fleeing. Mohammed Saleh, a former resident who reached the border community of Dole Kena, described a scene of chaos and profound anxiety. He noted that while many have successfully crossed with their wives, children, and elderly parents, the fate of those who made it remains a mystery to those left behind.

Even for those who reach the border, safety is not guaranteed. Saleh revealed that some displaced Nigerians were intercepted by authorities upon crossing and sent back across the line. Despite being forcibly returned to a conflict zone, many remain undeterred, stating that the risk of arrest or the dangers of the bush are far more palatable than waiting for a visit from Turji’s men. The prevailing sentiment among the displaced is that it is better to be a prisoner elsewhere than a corpse in Sokoto.

The violence that prompted this latest wave of migration has intensified over the last three weeks, with kidnapping becoming a rampant and lucrative industry for the marauders. Families are being pushed into extreme poverty as they struggle to raise exorbitant ransoms. In one harrowing account, Saleh shared that his elder brother was abducted, and despite the family raising five million naira—a staggering sum for the rural community—the kidnappers demanded an additional 2.5 million naira before they would consider his release.

This cycle of extortion and broken promises has shattered the social fabric of the region. Sarkin Noma, a 75-year-old farmer from Tidibale, spoke of the exhaustion that comes with years of living under siege. He lamented that insecurity has become a permanent feature of life, with no sign of intervention from the state. At his advanced age, Noma finds himself physically unable to undertake the grueling trek to Niger, even as his own son and grandchildren have already fled for their lives.

The elderly who remain behind live in a state of constant vigilance, caught between their inability to run and the reality that their homes are no longer sanctuaries. Another displaced resident, 66-year-old Mallam Ibrahim, described his flight a week ago as a frantic escape following direct threats linked to the bandit kingpin. He and his family are currently in hiding, waiting for verified news of security deployments before they even consider the possibility of returning to their ancestral lands.

While there are reports that some security personnel have been deployed to the affected areas, the trust gap remains wide. Many who have fled are skeptical of claims that the region is being stabilized. They have seen security forces arrive and leave before, only for the bandits to return with even greater ferocity once the patrols vanish. For now, they prefer the harsh conditions of displacement over the gamble of a premature return.

The situation in Isa Local Government Area serves as a grim reminder of the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders and the ease with which non-state actors can displace entire populations. The humanitarian implications are significant, as these displaced persons arrive in Niger with no resources, placing a strain on the host communities and creating a cross-border crisis that requires urgent diplomatic and military coordination.

As the sun sets over the deserted villages of eastern Sokoto, the silence is a testament to the fear instilled by Bello Turji. The fields that should be teeming with farmers like Sarkin Noma are empty, and the schools are silent. The residents who have made it to Niger now face the grueling reality of life as refugees, while those trapped in Nigeria look toward the horizon, wondering if they will be the next to join the desperate march across the border.