Tragedy struck in the early hours of Sunday, April 13, 2025, as armed bandits launched a deadly attack on Tungar Dada village in the Moriki District of Zurmi Local Government Area, Sokoto State, killing one person and abducting at least 50 residents.
The terrifying raid, which happened around 4:00 a.m., threw the quiet farming community into chaos, as the attackers arrived heavily armed and fired gunshots to scare and subdue the villagers. According to local sources and security officials, the bandits whisked away dozens of people, including women and children, to an unknown location.
The incident has added to the growing number of violent attacks by criminal groups in Sokoto and neighbouring states in northwestern Nigeria, where communities have continued to face threats from banditry, kidnapping, and rural insecurity.
Residents of Tungar Dada say the attack came without warning. “We were asleep when we heard gunshots. Before we knew it, people were shouting and running,” said a local man who asked not to be named for security reasons.
By the time the shooting stopped, one resident had been killed, and scores of others were missing. The attackers reportedly moved swiftly, targeting households and rounding up their victims before fleeing into the bush.
“We woke up to find that our neighbours had been taken. Some houses were broken into. The bandits didn’t even give anyone a chance to beg for mercy,” said another resident.
Security sources have confirmed the attack and say efforts are underway to rescue the abducted villagers. A spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command told reporters on Monday that they were collaborating with local vigilantes and the military to track down the attackers.
“The situation is under investigation. Our men have been deployed to the area, and we are working with intelligence and other security agencies to rescue the victims and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the spokesperson said.
The source added that the operation to pursue the bandits is ongoing and that updates would be shared with the public as soon as possible.
The Tungar Dada attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents linked to bandits operating in the Northwest. Similar attacks have been reported in parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, and Sokoto states.
Zurmi Local Government Area, where the attack took place, shares a border with Zamfara State — one of the regions hardest hit by banditry in recent years. Despite security operations launched by the federal government, the attackers continue to launch surprise raids on vulnerable communities.
Experts believe the terrain and lack of sufficient security personnel in remote areas give bandits an advantage, allowing them to strike quickly and disappear before help arrives.
In the aftermath of the attack, Tungar Dada village has been thrown into mourning and fear. Families are grieving the loss of a community member while worrying about the safety of their loved ones taken by the bandits.
One local leader who spoke to reporters under anonymity described the mood in the village as “heartbreaking.” He said many villagers are now afraid to sleep at night and have started fleeing to nearby towns in search of safety.
“We are tired. How long will we live like this? Our people are being killed and taken away, and we don’t know if they will return alive,” he said.
He called on the government to take stronger action and protect rural communities that are repeatedly targeted by criminals.
As of the time of filing this report, the Sokoto State Government has not issued an official statement on the incident. However, sources close to the government say efforts are being made to liaise with federal security agencies to boost surveillance and patrol in vulnerable areas.
In recent years, the federal government has deployed military operations such as **Operation Hadarin Daji** to fight bandits in the Northwest, but many rural communities still remain exposed.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier promised to prioritize security, particularly in regions affected by insurgency and banditry, but locals say they have yet to feel the impact of those promises.
The growing number of abductions in northern Nigeria has also sparked humanitarian concerns. Many abductees are kept in forest camps for weeks or months, and some are released only after large ransoms are paid. Others have not been seen again.
In several cases, entire families have been displaced due to fear of renewed attacks. Non-governmental organizations working in the region have warned that unless the security situation improves, many more people could face hunger, trauma, and displacement.
“The psychological trauma of these attacks cannot be overstated. People are living in fear, and children are growing up in an environment of violence,” said a humanitarian worker based in Sokoto.
Local leaders, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens are calling for immediate intervention. They are asking both the federal and state governments to increase security presence in rural areas, improve intelligence gathering, and provide relief for affected families.
A community elder in Zurmi LGA said, “If these criminals are not stopped, more lives will be lost. Government must act fast and decisively. We are tired of condolence messages—we need action.”
As rescue operations continue, the focus remains on safely retrieving the 50 villagers abducted by the bandits. Security experts say coordinated action and community involvement are key to stopping further attacks.
For now, Tungar Dada waits and hopes—for the return of its people, and for an end to the violence that has plagued the region for far too long.
