39 Killed, 37 Abducted, 19 Communities Displaced In Sokoto Bandit Attacks

About 39 people have been killed, 37 abducted, while 19 communities have been displaced after bandits attacked Sokoto State, residents say.

Residents of Sabon Birni on Tuesday lamented repeated bandit attacks in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, accusing the Federal Government and northern political leaders of failing to prioritise the protection of their lives.

A resident, Munir Auwal, said the latest attack, which lasted six hours, from 9:00 pm on Monday to 3:00 am on Tuesday, left about 39 persons dead, 37 abducted, and 19 communities sacked.

Speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP yesterday, a resident, Munir Auwal, said the incident triggered another tragedy when scores of villagers attempted to escape the bandit attack but drowned.
A local canoe operator, Bala Saidu, said overloaded boats capsized, with about 25 people, mostly women and children, who were swept away.

“Seven persons were rescued alive, while 18 others drowned. Family continues searching for their missing relatives,” he said.

Saidu lamented that despite informing security personnel about the invasion, no reinforcement arrived.
Another resident, who gave his name as Maikifi, told LEADERSHIP in a telephone conversation that he fled to Sokoto metropolis.
He lamented that his village was completely deserted.

“We fled to Sokoto because we had never experienced a terror attack like what happened on Monday night. About 40 of us escaped here, and everyone is now staying with relatives,” he said.
He said those confirmed killed during the bandit attack included Kabiru Mallam Tanimu, Ayuba Mallam Hashim and Yakubu Muazu. He said many others remained missing.

The attack also forced residents from 19 surrounding settlements to flee. The affected communities include Borai, Tsululu, Garin Tudu, Bukka Hamsin, Turkawa, Rumbukawa, Dutsin Na Umma, Zangon Muazu, Arawa, Kuru, Zangon Mallam, Mai Hurde, Zugun, Gidan Na Birni, Mashaya and Marina,” he added.

The displaced residents appealed to the federal and Sokoto State governments to urgently deploy additional security personnel and provide APCs to enable operatives to reclaim the area.

The Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed the incidents but said he could not independently verify the casualty figures that arose from the attack and the boat incident.

The local government chairman stressed that accessing the village is a big risk for now.

“The incidents indeed happened, but I was not there myself. Therefore, I have to verify the figures before I can confirm them,” he added.

The spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, confirmed the attack, saying additional security personnel had been deployed to restore peace and prevent further attacks.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, who spoke on the phone with LEADERSHIP, said the absence of security operatives during the attack was proof that “some lives. Some communities are not important to those in authority.

“The primary responsibility of government is to ensure that citizens are protected against this kind of violent attack and senseless killing,” he said.

Rafsanjani blamed the situation on overstretched security resources and wrong deployment priorities.

“If you look at the number of security personnel following VIPs and guarding private individuals, if we deploy them to communities where protection is lacking, we would have saved lives and prevented criminals from carrying out these atrocities,” he stated.

CISLAC also faulted northern governors, senators and members of the House of Representatives for failing to mount pressure on the federal government to address insecurity.

“It’s a big failure on the part of the state government and the northern leadership. The governors, senators and House of Representatives members from the entire north have not prioritised this issue,” Afsanjani said.

According to him, if northern leaders had prioritised safety, they could have saved not only Sokoto but also Kebbi, Katsina, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Kwara, and Kogi states, which are under constant attack.”

“If they had prioritised the safety and protection of the people, even if the federal government did nothing, they could have mounted pressure for the needed action. Rather, they are more interested in endorsing the continuation of the present administration,” he said.

The organisation called on northern senators, governors, members of the House of Representatives, and local government chairmen to speak with one voice and say “enough is enough.”