- Safiu Kehinde
The Sokoto State Government has clarified a viral video showing residents of Tidibale Village fleeing their community over evacuation and attack notice allegedly issued by notorious bandits leader, Bello Turji.
NPO Reported that Turji had allegedly ordered a 24-hour ultimatum for residents across Eastern Sokoto to evacuate their communities.
The wanted bandits leader was reported to have given the directive as part of his planned effort to expand his territory by seizing control of the communities.
Reacting to the reports in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director-General,
Media and Publicity,
Government House, Sokoto Abubakar Bawa, the state government clarified that the individuals in the video are indeed residents of Tidibale village in Isa Local Government Area.
However, the government claimed the residents were not chased away by bandits, rather they were temporarily conveyed to the Isa LG headquarters by Council Authorities following a rumour that bandits were planning an attack on the community.
The Councillor representing the ward where the village is located, Dayyabu Sani, was said to have reported the attack plot to the Chairman of the local government, Sherifu Kamarawa.
According to reports, the Chairman directed that the villagers be temporarily relocated to the Local Government headquarters as a precautionary measure.
The Sokoto State Government maintained that the affected residents have since returned safely to their ancestral homes in Tidibale Village, while Security Agencies have intensified patrols in the Area to forestall any possible breach of peace by criminal elements.
In a bid to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the village and surrounding communities, the Sokoto State Government approved the establishment of a Forward Operational Base (FOB) in the Area to complement existing security formations in Isa LGA.
The Sokoto State Government reassured the People of the State, particularly those in Security-challenged Areas, of its unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property at all times.
It maintained that it will continue to work closely with conventional Security Agencies, the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps and Vigilante groups to safeguard rural Communities across the State.
The Government also issued a note of warning against the politicisation of security issues and urges citizens to cooperate fully with the government and security agencies in the fight against banditry, including exposing informants living within their Communities.
Furthermore Members of the Public are strongly advised to desist from spreading rumours, particularly on security-related matters, due to their sensitive nature and the panic they often generate.