Hundreds of residents in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State have abandoned their homes following coordinated attacks by armed bandits that left entire villages deserted.
The mass displacement was confirmed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) during a joint assessment visit to a temporary IDP settlement at the 30 Houses Estate in Shagari town.
Community leaders, including the Hakimin ‘Yan Dundaji, Malam Magaji, and the Maigarin Tungar-Barke, Muhammadu Tudu, said the attacks occurred three days earlier, forcing families from at least eight communities to flee.
The affected villages include Tungar-Barke, Lungu, Aske-Dodo, Tungar-Doruwa, Zango, ‘Yan Yandu, Tungar Na’anza, and Ila. Many of the displaced are now living in makeshift shelters with limited food and basic necessities.
“This crisis is beyond what the communities can bear. We need protection and immediate relief,” an elderly person at the IDP camp told visiting officials.
The victims have appealed for urgent government intervention, calling for the deployment of security operatives to secure their ancestral homes and enable their safe return.
Sokoto SEMA said it was working with NEMA and other relevant agencies to provide relief materials while coordinating with security authorities to restore normalcy.