Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Sokoto — Horror and fear gripped the Tudun Wada community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Sokoto State, on Sunday afternoon when suspected Bello Turji-linked gunmen stormed the settlement and beheaded the village head in a brazen daylight attack, residents and security observers have reported. The gruesome killing has sent shockwaves through the rural community and underscored the persistent threat of heavily armed criminal groups operating with impunity in parts of northwest Nigeria.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers rode into Tudun Wada on motorcycles and launched the assault with little warning, overwhelming local defenders and killing the traditional leader before withdrawing swiftly into surrounding terrain. The incident occurred in broad daylight, amplifying panic and fear among villagers already traumatised by repeated raids and insecurity in the region.
Residents and security analysts have linked the raid to armed bandits believed to be affiliated with the notorious kingpin Bello Turji, who has a long history of violent attacks, kidnappings and crime across Sokoto and neighbouring states. While there has been no formal statement from security agencies naming those responsible, online posts from residents and commentators identified the assailants as Turji-linked gunmen, reflecting broader community perceptions of which groups are active in the area.
The beheading of a community leader — a role traditionally central to rural governance, dispute resolution and liaison with authorities — has deeply unsettled locals, who say the attack illustrates the growing boldness of armed groups that continue to exploit porous borders, difficult terrain and gaps in security coverage. Many villagers fled their homes following the incident, seeking refuge in neighbouring settlements and making calls for urgent reinforcement by the military and police.
Sabon Birni Local Government Area has been among the parts of Sokoto State most affected by recurrent banditry. In recent weeks, joint operations by the Nigerian Army and community vigilance groups under Operation Fansan Yamma have reported successes against armed groups in the region, including the neutralisation of several terror suspects in related engagements.
Despite these reported gains on the security front, the persistence of high-impact attacks such as the Tudun Wada beheading underscores the tenacity of criminal networks and the complex challenges facing state and federal efforts to secure remote communities. Analysts note that capable leadership structures like village heads are often targeted to eliminate local resistance and intimidate residents into submission, a tactic that spreads fear and complicates community cooperation with formal forces.
Residents expressed profound grief and called on the Sokoto State Government, the Nigerian military and police authorities to deepen their patrols and operations in rural belts, particularly around known bandit corridors linking Sokoto State with Zamfara and Niger Republic border areas. Some traditional leaders lamented that despite periodic military offensives, armed groups regroup quickly and strike soft targets, often in daylight when villagers are most vulnerable.
The killing of the village head — whose duties typically include mediating disputes, coordinating community programmes, and liaising with law enforcement — has left a leadership vacuum in Tudun Wada, further eroding local confidence in the ability of security forces to protect rural communities.
The Sokoto State Police Command has yet to issue an official comment on the attack or confirm any investigations into the beheading. Local youths and community guards have since mobilised to protect neighbouring areas, but residents remain deeply concerned about further reprisals and the safety of their families.
As villagers mourn their fallen leader and wrestle with fear of further violence, calls for more sustained and proactive security deployments continue to grow, reflecting the urgent need for a lasting strategy to protect citizens in one of Nigeria’s most beleaguered rural regions.
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