Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Rabah LGA, Sokoto State — Armed bandits last night launched a brutal attack on Rarah town in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving at least two residents dead, abducting several men and women, and looting shops and homes in a wave of violence that has renewed fears about the deteriorating security situation across the region.
According to local accounts, the bandits operated with impunity for more than an hour, moving through the town and carrying out their assault with little to no resistance before withdrawing under the cover of darkness. Residents described scenes of terror, with gunfire ringing through the town and families fleeing for safety as the attackers ransacked properties and seized people from their homes.
Eyewitnesses said the scale and duration of the attack reflect the widening reach of bandit gangs in parts of Sokoto State, particularly in rural areas where security presence remains thin and response times slow. Community members lamented that no security personnel were on the ground at the time, leaving civilians vulnerable to the marauders’ actions.
The violence in Rarah is part of a broader pattern of insecurity affecting Sokoto State and neighbouring areas in northwest Nigeria, where armed groups have frequently targeted villages for killings, kidnappings and looting. Recent months have seen numerous incidents in Rabah and surrounding local government areas, forcing residents to flee their homes and fuelling displacement. In August 2025, multiple villages in Rabah LGA were attacked by suspected gunmen, leading to mass displacement and calls for stronger government intervention to protect civilians.
Banditry in Sokoto has also witnessed significant non‑military impacts, such as the crippling of education in communities where schools have been abandoned and students relocated due to repeated attacks, underscoring the far‑reaching consequences of the insecurity.
The latest assault has intensified concerns among residents over how long civilians will remain exposed to such deadly raids. Many are questioning what concrete measures state and federal authorities are deploying to halt recurring violence and protect vulnerable communities. In recent months, the Sokoto State government has said it is rolling out security initiatives designed to curb banditry, emphasising intelligence gathering and cooperation with federal agencies, although the effectiveness of these measures continues to be a subject of debate among locals.
As families struggle to come to terms with their losses and the fate of those abducted remains unknown, calls for urgent deployment of security forces have grown louder. Community leaders and civil society figures are urging a more decisive strategy to safeguard lives and properties before more towns fall prey to armed groups.
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