Bandits have killed 21 residents and abducted 37 others during a deadly attack that left a rural community in Sokoto devastated and families displaced.
The assault also triggered a humanitarian crisis as fleeing residents reportedly drowned while escaping.
Also, homes were destroyed, livestock were stolen by the bandits and scores of villagers were forced to abandon their houses amid growing fears of renewed attacks.
The attack occurred on Monday night in Tsamaye community, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where heavily gunmen invaded the settlement and unleashed hours of violence.
Residents said panic erupted after reports emerged that the attackers were approaching, prompting many villagers to flee through a nearby river in a desperate attempt to escape.
During the chaotic evacuation, the bandits shot at the boats making the overcrowded boats to capsize, leaving about 18 people, mostly women and children, feared dead by drowning, while seven others were rescued.
A resident said relatives trying to contact missing family members received responses from the attackers, who allegedly claimed responsibility for abducting 37 people.
“Many of those taken away were women and children who had earlier sought safety on their farms because of previous attacks on the village,” the resident said.
Another resident lamented that repeated distress calls to security agencies did not produce an immediate response before the attackers completed their operation.
“By the time help came, the gunmen had already finished their operation. The community was left at their mercy,” the resident said.
A local vigilante member said the assailants moved from house to house, forcing residents to identify wealthy families and locations where livestock were kept before looting the community.
According to the vigilante member, the attackers also set two houses ablaze, stole livestock, and left several residents unaccounted for after the raid.
Many displaced families have since fled to Sokoto metropolis and neighbouring communities, while residents appealed to both the Federal Government and the Sokoto State Government to strengthen security deployments and provide security operatives with better equipment to protect vulnerable communities.
Confirming the incident, Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Ayuba Hashimu, said the attack occurred but explained that authorities were still verifying the number of casualties.
The spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, also confirmed the attack, saying additional security personnel had been deployed to the affected area to restore calm and prevent further violence.