A fresh wave of bandit attacks in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State has left at least five people dead and many others kidnapped, including Islamic clerics and the district head of Rinaye town.
The violent raids, which lasted for three consecutive days, saw heavily armed men invade multiple villages, killing residents, burning homes, and abducting community leaders.
Local sources say the attacks have led to mass displacement, with over ten villages now deserted as residents flee for safety. Many of the affected villagers are currently stranded without shelter, food, or any official assistance.
The most brutal of the attacks occurred in Rinaye, a town in Shagari LGA. There, three people were killed, and both the district head and several Islamic scholars were abducted.
Eyewitnesses say the gunmen stormed the town late at night, firing gunshots and going house to house, searching for community leaders.
“They came in large numbers, shooting everywhere. We had to run into the bush,” said a resident of Rinaye who asked not to be named for security reasons.
“We woke up the next morning to find that our district head and some respected clerics were taken.”
Following the attacks, terrified residents from more than ten surrounding villages have abandoned their homes, with some walking for miles to seek refuge in neighbouring towns or along highways.
The frustration and fear boiled over into protests on the major highway that links Sokoto, Kebbi, and Niger States, where hundreds of displaced people gathered, demanding immediate government intervention.
The protesters blocked sections of the road, holding placards and chanting for help. Some said they have been left to fend for themselves despite repeated appeals to both state and federal authorities.
“We have been calling for help for months. Now our leaders have been taken, and still, no one is coming,” said a protester from the affected area.
Both the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have confirmed receiving reports of the displaced persons from Shagari LGA.
Officials from the two agencies said assessments are ongoing, and efforts are being made to provide temporary relief. However, as of Monday, no major aid had reached the affected communities.
“We are aware of the situation in Shagari LGA and have sent a team to verify the extent of the damage and displacement,” said a senior official from SEMA.
The latest attacks highlight the worsening security crisis in parts of northern Nigeria, especially in states like Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina, where bandits continue to operate freely.
Despite repeated promises by security agencies to restore peace, many rural communities remain under constant threat. Armed groups, often riding on motorcycles, target villages for kidnappings, looting, and killings.
Leaders and analysts have called for a more coordinated military response, increased surveillance, and greater protection for rural populations.
“If our traditional rulers and clerics can be taken just like that, then no one is safe anymore,” said a Sokoto-based security analyst.
As tension continues to rise in Shagari LGA and surrounding areas, community members are urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the Sokoto State Government, and security agencies to take urgent and decisive action.
“This is beyond politics. People are dying. Leaders are being taken. The government must act now,” said one community elder.
Until then, fear and uncertainty hang heavy in the air, and for many in Shagari, safety remains a distant dream.
