Bandits Kill Resident, Abduct Five in Nighttime Raid on Sokoto Village

 

Suspected armed bandits launched a deadly nighttime assault on a community in Rabah Local Government Area, killing one resident and abducting five others, according to local reports.

The attack occurred recently, with the gunmen invading the village under the cover of darkness, firing sporadically before making off with their captives. The incident has heightened fears among residents already grappling with persistent insecurity in the northwest region.

Sources familiar with the matter confirmed the casualty figures to Punch Newspapers, noting that the raid fits a broader wave of bandit activities targeting vulnerable rural settlements for abductions—often aimed at extracting ransom payments—and occasional killings.

No group has claimed responsibility, but such operations in Sokoto are frequently attributed to nomadic herder-militant gangs operating across state borders with Zamfara, Kebbi, and Niger.

Local authorities and security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the latest attack, but residents have called for enhanced military presence and patrols to curb the menace.

This incident comes amid a string of similar attacks in Sokoto State in recent months, including deadly raids in Isa, Sabon Birni, and other LGAs that have resulted in multiple deaths and abductions.

Community leaders have urged the federal and state governments to intensify counter-banditry operations to restore peace and enable displaced persons to return home safely.

The development underscores the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria's North West, where banditry continues to displace communities and disrupt livelihoods despite military efforts.

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