Several communities in Sokoto State have been attacked by suspected bandits, leaving many feared dead, 37 people abducted and thousands of residents displaced.
The attacks occurred across Kebbe, Sabon Birni and Shagari Local Government Areas, with security personnel also recording casualties.
In Kebbe Local Government Area, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Bala Wakili, was killed on Monday during a gun battle with the attackers.
Wakili, who was attached to the Kebbe Police Division, was killed after a joint security team comprising police officers, soldiers and members of the Sokoto Community Guard Corps engaged the bandits following an attack on Girkau and Zugu communities.
Sources said the attackers invaded the villages around 4pm and rustled livestock before security operatives mounted an ambush as they attempted to leave the area.
The confrontation reportedly lasted for more than one hour before the attackers overpowered the security team, killing the police officer and setting two patrol vehicles ablaze.
A security source confirmed that Wakili’s body was recovered and buried on Tuesday.
The Sokoto State Police Command also confirmed the incident, with its spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, saying the officer paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
Rufa’i said additional security personnel had been deployed to the affected communities to restore calm and track down the attackers.
In Tsamaye community, Sabon Birni Local Government Area, residents said at least 21 people were feared killed while 37 others were abducted during a night attack.
The attack reportedly started around 9pm on Monday and continued until after 3am on Tuesday, leaving two houses burnt, livestock stolen and residents fleeing their homes.
A separate tragedy occurred when villagers attempting to escape through a river after receiving information about the attackers’ movement were involved in a boat accident.
Residents said an overloaded boat carrying mostly women and children capsized, throwing about 25 people into the water. Seven people were rescued, while 18 others remained missing.
One resident said relatives who called the phones of abducted victims were answered by the attackers, who confirmed that they had taken them away.
He explained that many residents had already stopped sleeping in their homes because of repeated attacks and were staying in nearby farms and bushes at night.
“Most of those abducted were women and children,” the resident said, adding that some infants were separated from their mothers during the attack.
Residents accused security agencies of arriving late, while local vigilantes said they lacked the equipment needed to respond effectively.
The attack reportedly forced residents of neighbouring communities, including Borai, Tsululu, Garin Tudu, Bukka Hamsin, Turkawa, Rumbukawa and others, to flee their homes.
The chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed the attack but said casualty figures were still being verified.
DSP Rufa’i also confirmed the incident and said additional security personnel had been deployed to restore peace.
The attack came days after bandits killed eight residents in the same community, including three worshippers inside a mosque.
Meanwhile, residents of Shagari Local Government Area said about 20 villages had been deserted following another attack by suspected bandits.
The attackers reportedly stole livestock and motorcycles, forcing residents to flee their communities.
A resident of Shagari town said displaced persons from about 20 villages had moved into the town for safety.
“Some left because they were attacked, while others fled because of fear of what could happen,” he said.
A resident of Kaura village, located near Shagari town, said the attackers invaded the community, rustled animals and stole motorcycles.
The chairman of Shagari Local Government Area, Maidawa Alhaji Kajiji, declined to comment on the incident.
The Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security Matters, retired Colonel Ahmed Usman, said the state government remained committed to protecting residents and supporting security agencies.
He said the government had recently provided 62 armoured personnel carriers and more than 300 motorcycles to security agencies to improve surveillance and response operations.
Security analyst and author of *I Am a Bandit*, Professor Murtala Rufa’i, attributed the resurgence of attacks to factors including military operations, the rainy season and the emergence of new bandit leaders.
He said intensified military pressure in some areas had pushed armed groups towards locations they considered safer.
Rufa’i also warned of possible links between bandit groups and extremist elements, stressing the need for stronger intelligence gathering, rapid response and community-based security measures.
Reports indicate that more than 77 people have been killed in separate bandit attacks across Sokoto State between June 29 and August 4, 2026.
The affected areas include Sabon Birni, Rabah, Bodinga, Goronyo, Wurno and other local government areas where armed groups have carried out killings, abductions and livestock theft.
The latest attacks in Kebbe, Sabon Birni and Shagari have renewed concerns among residents of communities that have suffered repeated insecurity despite ongoing security operations.
