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 ...