16 people killed in attacks on Sokoto communities over the weekend

At least 16 people were killed in separate attacks on three communities in Sokoto State from Friday evening to early Sunday.

Daily Trust reported that 12 people died in Lajinge, Sabon Birni Local Government Area. Four others were killed in Gandi and Maikujera communities in Rabah LGA.

At least three more people were injured. An unknown number of residents were also taken away by the attackers.

The attackers stole livestock, fuel, cash, mobile phones, and other goods. Many families were forced to flee their homes due to the violence.

PREMIUM TIMES has not been able to confirm the death toll and other details of the attacks.

Twelve killed in Lajinge

Daily Trust reported that armed men invaded Lajinge around 11 p.m. on Saturday and stayed until about 3:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Residents said the attackers fired shots, broke into homes, stole livestock, and kidnapped some people.

Six people died after the attackers set fire to a room where they were hiding. The victims were identified as Wauro, also known as Mallam Roro, and his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed. Two relatives, Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami, and an internally displaced person living with them also died.

Another resident, named Lawwali, was shot while trying to escape. Other victims included Yusuf, three internally displaced persons in Lajinge, and a woman named Agada, who died from shock during the attack.

The attackers also kidnapped Mr Wauro’s two wives and took his livestock. The total number of abducted residents is unclear. Some children taken away were later released, according to reports.

A community vigilante member told Daily Trust that they were stationed near the village primary school when the attack started.

He said they were overwhelmed and had to retreat, allowing the attackers to move freely in the community. Residents said the attack lasted about four hours without any security backup, despite several distress calls to personnel in nearby communities of Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu.

They added that the community had faced previous attacks and had asked the government for more security.

Four killed in Rabah

Four other people were killed in Maikujera and Gandi communities in Rabah LGA between Friday evening and Saturday morning.

According to Daily Trust, suspected bandits entered Maikujera at about 6 p.m. on Friday and stayed for several hours, stealing livestock and looting shops.

Two residents, Lawwali Mikailu, known as Alako, and Asmau Nanuwa, also called Bodi, were killed.

Three others were shot and taken to a hospital for treatment. A trader told the newspaper that the attackers stole petrol, engine oil, and over ₦500,000 from his shop.

Residents estimated that over ₦250 million worth of livestock, cash, and goods were taken during the raid. This estimate has not been confirmed.

They claimed that more than 150 cattle were rustled, along with bread, soft drinks, recharge cards, mobile phones, and other valuables from shops.

Another resident said some of the stolen livestock came from settlements in Bodinga, Shagari, Yabo, and Tureta LGAs before passing through Maikujera. They mentioned that flooding had made alternative routes impassable, leaving the Maikujera bridge as the only way through.

Two killed in Gandi

Gandi community was attacked around 7 a.m. on Saturday.

A resident quoted by the newspaper said the gunmen entered after rustling cattle from nearby settlements. The attackers tried to break into a filling station to steal fuel but found it locked.

They damaged a dispensing pump before moving to roadside fuel vendors, where they stole petrol and engine oil. The gunmen then entered houses, which were built with support from the Government of Qatar for internally displaced persons.

Two residents were killed before soldiers arrived and forced the attackers to leave. Residents said repeated attacks forced many families to flee, while some traders planned to close their businesses for fear of more attacks.

They noted that nearby communities had experienced several raids in the past week and called for more security personnel to be deployed.

The residents praised the Divisional Police Officer in Rabah for responding to distress calls but said the police division needed more support.

Police response

The spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmad Rufai, did not answer calls or respond to a WhatsApp message seeking his reaction to the attacks in Gandi and Maikujera.

About the Lajinge attack, Mr Rufai reportedly said he was traveling and had not been informed about the incident. He promised to verify the report once he reached his office but had not provided any updates when the newspaper published its story.