A series of violent bandit attacks has swept through Shagari Local Government Area in Sokoto State, leaving at least five people dead and resulting in the abduction of Islamic clerics alongside the district head of Rinaye.
Eyewitnesses reported that armed gangs carried out coordinated raids on local communities over three consecutive days.
Villagers said the attackers killed residents, looted properties, and kidnapped numerous individuals, prompting entire settlements to abandon their homes.
In Rinaye town, three deaths have been confirmed, while the traditional ruler and several local clerics were forcibly taken by the assailants. Reports indicate that more than ten villages in the area have been left deserted as families fled in terror.
The ongoing violence sparked a mass protest along the major highway connecting Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger states. Hundreds of displaced residents blocked the road, demanding urgent government intervention to restore security.
Several victims expressed frustration that neither the government nor security agencies had provided assistance since the attacks began. They appealed for immediate action to halt the killings and protect their communities.
Both the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed receiving reports of displaced persons from the affected areas and are coordinating response efforts.
