A new wave of violence has rocked Sokoto State as armed bandits carried out coordinated assaults on several rural communities in Wurno Local Government Area, leaving six people dead and twelve others kidnapped.
Security analyst Bakatsine disclosed the incident in a post on his X handle early Wednesday, describing the overnight attacks as “a devastating blow” to the affected villages.
According to him, the gunmen stormed Gidan Maihatsi, Gidan Yamma, Saketa, and Tudunbixo villages, shooting indiscriminately and carting away livestock and valuables. Residents reportedly fled into nearby bushes to escape the assault.
“The attackers came in large numbers, moving from one village to another,” Bakatsine wrote. “Six residents were killed, twelve others were abducted, and several herds of cattle were taken away. Tension remains high in the area.”
Furthermore, local sources said the raids lasted for hours without immediate response from security forces, heightening fear among villagers who described the attack as one of the worst in recent weeks.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We barely slept last night. The gunmen moved freely, and no help came until it was too late. People are still missing.”
As of press time, security agencies have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident, but locals are calling for urgent government intervention to protect rural communities that have become frequent targets of armed groups.
The Wurno LGA, like many parts of Sokoto and Zamfara States, has faced repeated assaults from bandits in recent months, forcing hundreds of families to flee their homes and disrupting farming and trade activities in the region.