At least 21 people are feared dead, 37 others have been abducted, and thousands of residents displaced after heavily armed bandits attacked Tsamaye community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The overnight assault, which began around 9:00 p.m. on Monday and continued until after 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, also left two houses burnt, livestock stolen, and the community virtually deserted, according to residents.
Witnesses said the violence triggered another tragedy as villagers fled towards a nearby river after receiving reports that the attackers were closing in.
Residents told Daily Trust that overcrowded boats carrying those escaping capsized, throwing dozens into the river.
About 25 people, mostly women and children, were swept away. While seven were rescued alive, 18 others are feared to have drowned, with frantic searches still ongoing.
One resident, who was preparing to flee the village, said the bandits confirmed the abduction of dozens of residents after relatives called the victims’ mobile phones.
“When we called our relatives, the bandits answered the phones and told us they were the ones who abducted them. They said they had taken 37 people,” he said.
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He explained that some victims were taken from their homes, while others were kidnapped from nearby farms where many villagers now spend the night to avoid repeated attacks.
“Because of the frequent attacks, many people no longer sleep in the village. They spend the night in farms and bushes to avoid being attacked. This time, the bandits searched through the farms, woke people up and took them away.
“Most of those abducted were women and children. I personally saw three infants placed on the ground by the bandits while they led their mothers away.”
The resident accused security personnel of failing to respond despite being alerted before the attackers completed their operation.
“We excused them during the previous attack because the bandits had surrounded them and were firing at them. But this time, they were informed early enough, yet nobody came to rescue us.”
The spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, also confirmed the attack, saying additional security personnel had been deployed to restore peace and prevent further assaults.
The latest attack comes barely days after bandits invaded the same Tsamaye community, killing eight residents, including three worshippers inside a mosque.
Sabon Birni remains one of the worst-hit areas in Sokoto State and the wider North-West, where armed groups continue to carry out deadly attacks, mass kidnappings, and widespread displacement despite ongoing military and security operations.