Bandits Kill 20 In Sokoto Community

Bandits attacked Dangulbi village, Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State, killing 20 people and causing an exodus in the community for fear of repeated attacks.

The gunmen struck on Sunday, leaving scores of residents displaced as gunmen reportedly stormed the community in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately, looting shops and forcing villagers to flee into nearby forests.

A prominent religious leader in Tureta Local Government, who spoke on the phone with our Correspondent on grounds of anonymity, confirmed the incident. He said, “The whole of Dangulbi is empty now, most people have had to sleep in the forest since Monday and Tuesday nights, and some are moving towards the township settlement.

“So far, no good security; the area is too big for security men to cover. Our people don’t have enough weapons to fight back, so the best solution is to run.”

He said amongst those killed are 7 visitors who came to the village to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir with loved ones. “The terrorists came from Bagega village in Zamfara State, navigating through Barayar Zaki in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of the same Zamfara, then taking shelter for the night in Gizazza village close to Dangulbi before launching the attack as early as 10 to 11 am in the morning,” he said.

Residents said many of those killed were visitors who had travelled to the community for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. Among the victims were men, women and youths caught in the surprise assault.

“They started shooting immediately they entered the village. People ran in different directions, but many could not escape,” the resident said.

Other sources alleged that the assailants had moved through neighbouring communities before converging on Dangulbi, where they carried out the attack and looted several shops. Some residents were reportedly abducted during the raid, although several later escaped amid confusion caused by a heavy rainstorm.

The attack triggered a mass exodus from Dangulbi and nearby settlements, with many residents seeking refuge in safer communities across Tureta and neighbouring local government areas.

Community leaders have called on the Federal Government and Sokoto State Government to strengthen security presence in the area, warning that repeated attacks are threatening livelihoods and disrupting farming activities ahead of the rainy season.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the incident and said security agencies were working to restore normalcy and prevent further attacks.

The latest assault adds to growing concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of Sokoto State, where rural communities continue to face recurring attacks by armed groups despite ongoing security operations.