- A yet to be ascertained number of persons were killed when the bandits attacked communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the State
Bandits wreaking havoc across Nigeria’s Northwest region have struck again in Sokoto State, lead deaths and destruction in their wake.
A yet to be ascertained number of persons were killed when the bandits attacked communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of the State.
The rampaging assailants, who are said to be loyal to notorious kingpin Bello Turji launched the onslaughts between Wednesday, August 14, and Friday, August 16.
Counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, who confirmed the incident on Monday, said many residents of the areas attacked were also abducted.
According to him, residents disclosed that villagers, a soldier, and a vigilante member were killed during the deadly attack.
Makama stated that survivors said the bandits ambushed travellers along the Yankasuwa–Masawa road on Wednesday, abducting passengers from vehicles.
On Thursday, they attacked Garki village, killing one person, abducting 16 others, and rustling three cows. The violence continued on Friday with raids on Turtsawa and Faru villages, where 28 residents were seized.
Meanwhile, the security expert said the Movement for Social Justice, a civil society group in Sokoto, confirmed the attacks and said their monitoring showed repeated assaults within a few days despite claims of peace negotiations.
The group called on the Sokoto State Government to act urgently to curb the violence.
Last week, the Defence Headquarters in Abuja dismissed reports that Turji had surrendered, with the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, stating that he remains on the military’s wanted list.
Turji, who operates between Sokoto and Zamfara States, is accused of orchestrating several deadly raids and mass abductions across the North-West
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