Fresh fear has gripped residents of Sabon-Birni local government area of Sokoto State, after notorious bandit leader Bello Turji and his fighters reportedly launched coordinated attacks on two communities, abducting dozens of residents and killing a 10-year-old child.
The latest attacks were disclosed on yesterday morning by security analyst and conflict reporter Bakatsine in a post on his verified 𝕏 account.
According to him, the first attack occurred in Tarah community, where the armed men reportedly engaged local vigilantes in a gun battle that lasted for about an hour. Despite resistance from the vigilantes, the attackers allegedly overpowered the community and abducted an unknown number of residents, including women and children.
Bakatsine, however, noted that at least 10 of the abducted victims managed to escape from captivity in the early hours of yesterday. He said the gunmen later moved to Takatsaba community, also in Sabon-Birni LGA, where they allegedly carried out another attack. During the raid, 37 residents were reportedly kidnapped, while a 10-year-old child was killed. Several other people were said to have sustained injuries during the attack.
The situation was further complicated by fears that the road leading to the General Hospital in Sabon-Birni had been planted with improvised explosive devices, a development that reportedly delayed efforts to evacuate the injured victims for treatment.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies and the Sokoto State Government had yet to issue an official statement on the attacks or confirm the number of casualties and abducted victims.
