Residents of Shagari and Bimasa communities in Sokoto State on Thursday launched counterattacks against bandits, rescuing kidnapped relatives and reportedly killing at least 15 of the attackers.
Sources told our correspondent that the villagers, armed with locally made weapons, tracked the bandits into the forest after a series of raids on their communities in Shagari and Tureta Local Government Areas.
“In Bimasa, residents killed several bandits, retrieved stolen animals, and even captured one suspect alive. The suspect was later paraded in the village,” a source said.
He added that abducted persons were also freed during the confrontations.
Some of community leaders, while praising the courage of the residents, expressed fears of possible reprisals and urged the state and federal governments to strengthen security in the affected areas to avert further bloodshed.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Tureta Local Government, Aliyu Tureta, while speaking with our correspondent, said preliminary reports indicated that six bandits were killed, while several kidnapped victims and cattle were recovered.
The Shagari axis has witnessed escalating insecurity in recent months, with repeated attacks leading to killings, mass abductions, and the displacement of hundreds of residents.
Frustration over the worsening crisis boiled over last week when youths in Shagari staged protests, demanding urgent government action.
Some threatened to take up arms in self-defence if adequate security measures were not deployed. They also called for the deployment of more security personnel to restore calm and protect rural communities from further raids.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State Government acknowledged the rising anger and pledged renewed efforts to restore peace.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu has repeatedly assured residents of his administration’s commitment to tackling banditry, citing recent support for security agencies in the state.
But many villagers remain skeptical, fearing that without urgent and sustained intervention, the cycle of violence could spiral further out of control.
