Notorious bandit kingpin Kachalla Bello Turji has reportedly killed 11 farmers in Lugu town, Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Mr Turji, who has been on the wanted list of the Nigerian military, reportedly carried out the attack in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to reports, Mr Turji was said to be returning from a Sallah visit to a community in Isa when he carried out heinous acts.
A resident of Isa, Basharu Altine Giyawa, told Daily Trust Newspaper that locals had received intelligence about Mr Turji’s planned visit to the eastern part of Gatawa in Sabon Birni Local Government Area since Saturday.
He said the information was promptly relayed to the authorities for action.
“But yesterday, Turji and his men left his village, Fakai, in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, passed through some of our communities in Isa, held their Sallah celebration, and then killed 11 farmers on their way back to Fakai,” he said.
The resident blamed the killings on security operatives’ failure to act on the intelligence report.
Also speaking, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Aminu Boza, acknowledged receiving an intelligence report about the impending attack.
“Yes, we were informed about Turji’s planned visit to the eastern part of Gatawa, and we acted swiftly. We went to Sabon Birni and took security measures to prevent it. That could be why he took out his anger on innocent farmers in Isa,” he said.
The report also said Mr Turji made a stop at Tozai village, where he killed the leader of the community’s vigilante group.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmad Rufa’i, declined comments on the attack.
