Bandits Abduct Three, Including Pregnant Woman, in Sokoto State Raid

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

Armed criminal gangs carried out a violent incursion on the community of Fadamar Tarah in Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria, in the early hours of a recent night, abducting three residents, including a pregnant woman, local reports indicate. The raid underscores the intensifying insecurity facing rural communities along the Nigeria-Niger border, where well-armed bandit groups have repeatedly targeted civilians for kidnapping and ransom.

According to posts circulating on social platforms and security-watch accounts, the assault occurred late on a recent evening when a group of gunmen believed to be part of a bandit faction stormed Fadamar Tarah. Witnesses reported that the attackers moved swiftly through the village, seizing three individuals before withdrawing into surrounding forested areas. One of the abductees is said to be a woman who was reportedly pregnant at the time of her capture, raising immediate concerns among residents and family members about her safety and wellbeing while in captivity. Details about the identities of those taken remain unverified, and there has been no official confirmation from state security agencies at the time of reporting.

The Sabon-Birni area has been a persistent flashpoint in Nigeria’s broader banditry crisis, which has seen rural settlements repeatedly subjected to raids, kidnappings and killings. In January, a separate attack in the same local government area resulted in at least seven villagers being killed and three others abducted during a predawn assault on a border community. That incident, characterised by indiscriminate shooting and swift escape by attackers, highlighted the vulnerability of remote communities where mobile network coverage is poor and security presence is limited.

Residents and local leaders in Fadamar Tarah and neighbouring villages have expressed alarm at the frequency of such attacks and the apparent impunity with which armed groups operate. Many victims of these incursions are taken to hideouts deep within forested terrain that straddles the Nigeria-Niger border, complicating rescue efforts and heightening the risk to captives, particularly vulnerable individuals such as women and children.

The phenomenon of banditry in northwest Nigeria has its roots in long-standing issues of poverty, weak state presence and competition over scarce resources, but it has evolved into a multifaceted security threat involving heavily armed criminal networks. These groups often engage in cattle rustling, extortion and kidnapping for ransom, extracting significant sums from families and communities desperate for the return of loved ones. Analysts note that the operational tactics of these criminals, including hit-and-run raids on poorly defended rural settlements, aim to sow fear and maintain leverage over local populations.

Security sources in Sokoto State have previously acknowledged that some of the more notorious bandit outfits are led by well-known figures who traverse the porous border regions between Nigeria and neighbouring Niger Republic. Efforts by federal and state authorities to quell such attacks have included military and police operations as well as community-based vigilante initiatives, but challenges remain acute amid the vast terrain and limited infrastructure.

The kidnapping of a pregnant woman in Fadamar Tarah has particularly alarmed humanitarian advocates, who warn that individuals held in captivity face heightened risk of injury, abuse or death, especially when medical care is inaccessible. Reports from other parts of northwest Nigeria have documented extremely distressing outcomes for women abducted while expecting, including deaths of captives and newborns in captivity, underscoring the urgent need for protective measures and swift action to secure their release.

In response to this latest raid, residents of Sabon-Birni and neighbouring communities have called on state and federal authorities to intensify patrols, improve intelligence sharing and deploy rapid-response teams capable of reaching remote settlements under threat. Family members of those abducted in Fadamar Tarah have also appealed for immediate intervention, urging that negotiations or rescue operations be mounted before the captives are harmed.

While there has not yet been an official statement from the Sokoto State Police Command or other security agencies regarding the Fadamar Tarah abductions, similar past incidents have prompted assurances from law enforcement that investigations and pursuit operations are underway. However, local leaders and civic groups have repeatedly lamented what they describe as slow or insufficient responses, particularly in areas far from urban centres where government presence is minimal.

The persistence of banditry and kidnappings in parts of Sokoto State and other northwestern regions has broader implications for Nigeria’s national security landscape. It exacerbates rural poverty, disrupts agricultural livelihoods and fuels cycles of displacement as families abandon their homes in search of relative safety. Traders, farmers and pastoralists alike face heightened risk, and the economic impact of repeated raids on local markets and food production is an added strain on communities already struggling with limited resources.

Security analysts and community advocates emphasise that any sustainable solution will require a combination of enhanced security operations, development of local infrastructure, and community engagement strategies that build trust between citizens and state authorities. They also stress the importance of regional cooperation with neighbouring countries to stem cross-border movements of armed groups and to strengthen joint efforts to locate and recover abducted victims.

For now, the people of Fadamar Tarah and surrounding villages remain on edge, awaiting clearer information on the fate of those taken and hoping for their safe return. Local vigilante groups say they are coordinating with families to gather whatever intelligence they can, but they acknowledge that without coordinated action from trained security forces, the prospects for a quick resolution are limited.

The attack in Fadamar Tarah is yet another reminder that insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest persists with devastating consequences for ordinary citizens, and that addressing this crisis remains a pressing priority for both state and national authorities.

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