The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the deaths of eight individuals and the injury of one other following a violent assault by suspected bandits on two villages in Tangaza Local Government Area.
Police spokesperson, DSP Ahmed Rufai, shared the update via a WhatsApp message on Thursday, stating that the attack occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the Baidi and Sabiyo communities. The assailants, believed to be members of the Lakurawa gang, reportedly carried out the coordinated strike using firearms and motorcycles.
“Eight people lost their lives in the incident, and one injured victim is receiving medical care at a hospital,” Rufai confirmed.
Local residents said the attackers first targeted Baidi village, where one person was shot. They then moved to Sabiyo village and ambushed several farmers, killing six of them instantly.
One of the victims, Aminu Sama’ila, was shot in the neck and chest and was rushed to the Sokoto Specialist Hospital. Another individual, Usman Sama’ila, has not been seen since the attack, prompting search efforts by both security operatives and local volunteers.
Eyewitnesses described the attackers as heavily armed and firing indiscriminately, forcing residents to flee their homes in panic.
In response, security forces have launched an extensive operation to locate the perpetrators. Joint teams from Operation Fansan Yanma, police units from Gidan-Madi Division, and local vigilantes are currently patrolling key forest paths and border areas between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
This latest assault is part of a series of violent incidents affecting Sokoto’s border communities, particularly during the farming season. Community leaders have expressed concerns that the ongoing insecurity could worsen food scarcity and displace more residents from their homes.
Authorities are calling on residents to remain alert and to report any suspicious activities that could aid ongoing security efforts to restore peace in the region.
