Bandits Kill 5, Abduct 9 Persons In Sokoto

A suspected bandits attack on Bargaja community of Isa local government area of Sokoto State has claimed five lives and led to the abduction of nine persons.

Chairman of Isa local government area, Sharehu Abubakar-Kamarawa, who confirmed the attack in a statement, however dismissed an allegation that the council failed to act on an earlier intelligence about the movement of the bandits.

The council chairman said he had acted swiftly upon receiving an intelligence report, mobilising local vigilante groups and notifying relevant security agencies for immediate response.

He described the online report allegations as a “baseless attempt to malign the image of the chairman and undermine ongoing security efforts” in the area.

He said, “while security personnel were deployed, subsequent intelligence indicated that the bandits diverted through another route outside the initially reported location, which unfortunately led to the tragic incident in Bargaja.”

The council boss disclosed that he has sanctioned the local security commander responsible for the area for negligence and replaced him with a more capable officer to improve coordination and response time.

Kamarawa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, noting that the council has been providing logistics, fuel, and welfare support to both formal and community security formations across Isa.

The chairman further noted that plans to strengthen Operation Faska Yamma with an air component and recruitment of additional personnel into the State Neighbourhood Initiative and Sokoto Marshals would enhance surveillance and rapid response across vulnerable areas.

Kamarawa assured residents that the Isa Local Government Council would continue to work closely with security agencies to ensure banditry and other violent crimes are curtailed to the barest. minimum.