Bandits strike again in Sokoto, kill two

At least two people have been killed, and scores of residents displaced after a fresh attack by bandits in Bargaja town in the early hours of Sunday.

Local sources said the assailants stormed the community around 1:30 a.m., sparking panic as villagers fled to safer locations, including Sokoto metropolis and neighbouring communities.

Security analyst Bashiru Altine Giyawa confirmed the attack, noting that Bargaja had been one of the few communities in the area to consistently resist raids by fighters linked to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.

“The vigilante group confronted the bandits in a fierce exchange of gunfire. Unfortunately, two vigilantes lost their lives during the confrontation,” Altine said.

The victims were identified as Umaru Biri and Garba Mumminu, who reportedly died from gunshot wounds sustained during the clash. Residents also said several bandits were killed, though their bodies were allegedly taken away by fellow fighters into nearby forest hideouts.

Eyewitnesses described the situation in Bargaja, located in eastern Sokoto, as tense, with repeated attacks linked to Turji’s network causing ongoing killings and mass displacement. Many displaced residents, mostly women and children, were seen leaving the town with their belongings amid fears that the insecurity was not being adequately addressed.