Fresh attacks by suspected bandits have displaced thousands of residents across parts of Sokoto State, with at least 21 people feared dead and 37 others abducted in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.
This comes as troops of the Nigerian Army rescued 14 kidnap victims and recovered 281 rustled livestock during a separate operation in Shagari LGA.
The latest incidents have heightened fears over the worsening security situation in the state, with residents fleeing their communities amid renewed attacks.
A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said repeated attacks over the past two weeks had forced residents to abandon many communities in Sabon Birni.
“Most of the communities in Sabon Birni are now deserted because of the persistent attacks recorded over the last two weeks. People can no longer remain in their homes out of fear,” the officer said.
He added that most displaced residents had relocated to Sokoto metropolis, believing it was safer than remaining in their villages.
The latest assault occurred on Monday night when heavily armed bandits reportedly invaded Tsamaye community from about 9 p.m. until the early hours of Tuesday, killing several residents, abducting dozens, burning houses and rustling livestock.
Residents said panic spread across neighbouring villages as families fled the attack.
One resident whose relatives were among those abducted said the gunmen answered victims’ mobile phones after the attack.
“When we called our relatives, the bandits answered the phones and told us they were the ones who had taken them. They said they abducted 37 people. Most of those taken away were women and children,” he said.
The violence also triggered another tragedy as villagers attempted to escape across a river after receiving reports that the attackers were approaching.
Eyewitnesses said overloaded boats carrying fleeing families capsized, throwing about 25 people, mostly women and children, into the water. While seven people were rescued, at least 18 others were still missing as of Tuesday.
Another resident said fear of repeated attacks had forced many villagers to abandon their homes long before the latest invasion.
“Because of the frequent attacks, many people now sleep in farms and bushes instead of their houses. But this time, the bandits searched those places, woke people up and marched them away. I personally saw three infants placed on the ground while their mothers were forced into the bush,” he said.
A survivor who fled to Sokoto metropolis described the attack as the worst the community had experienced.
“We have never witnessed this level of terror. We fled with only the clothes we were wearing. Many neighbouring communities have now been deserted because everyone fears another attack,” he said.
Residents said the attackers also burnt at least two houses, rustled a large number of livestock and forced people from several surrounding communities, including Borai, Tsululu, Garin Tudu, Bukka Hamsin, Turkawa, Rumbukawa, Dutsin Na Umma, Zangon Mu’azu, Arawa, Kuru, Zangon Mallam, Mai Hurde, Zugun, Gidan Na Birni, Mashaya and Marina, to flee.
Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed the attack but said casualty figures were still being verified.
“The incident indeed happened, but I was not personally at the scene. We are still verifying the casualty figures before making an official confirmation,” he said.
The spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said additional security personnel had been deployed to restore calm.
“Additional security personnel have been deployed to the affected communities, and efforts are ongoing to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice while preventing further attacks,” he said.
Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division Garrison rescued 14 kidnapped victims and recovered 281 rustled livestock after engaging suspected bandits in Horo Birni Village, Shagari Local Government Area.
A security source said the operation followed a distress call after bandits attacked the village and abducted residents.
“The troops made contact with the terrorists who were already in possession of the kidnapped civilians and rustled livestock.
“They engaged the criminals with superior firepower, forcing them to withdraw in disarray with gunshot wounds and abandon both the victims and the livestock,” the source said.
According to the source, the rescued victims were unharmed, while the recovered livestock comprised 195 cows, 84 sheep and two camels.
Two motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing bandits were also recovered.
