Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Last night, armed bandits launched a violent raid on Dabagin Yari community in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, resulting in multiple deaths, numerous injuries, and the abduction of a significant number of residents, including women and children, according to local sources and preliminary reports.
The assailants struck the rural settlement under the cover of darkness, catching many families off guard. Eyewitnesses said the attackers moved swiftly through the community, firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into surrounding bushes and farmlands for safety. By the time security personnel and local vigilantes reached parts of the area, several inhabitants had already been killed and others left nursing gunshot wounds.
Details of the exact number of fatalities, injured persons and abductees remain unverified at this stage, as rescue and recovery efforts continued into the early hours of this morning. Residents who escaped the attack described scenes of panic and chaos, with many families still searching for missing loved ones.
Local community leaders said that a “high number” of people, including women and children, were taken captive by the bandits during the assault. Confirming precise figures is difficult at this point, as displaced residents have been scattered across hiding spots in nearby bushland and have not yet been fully accounted for.
The attack has plunged Dabagin Yari into deep fear and mourning, with grieving relatives and neighbours calling for urgent security reinforcement to protect remaining villagers and to pursue the abductors. Some residents reported that communication networks in the area were temporarily disrupted, complicating efforts to report the incident and coordinate responses.
Security operatives, including officers from the Nigeria Police Force and local civil defence units, have reportedly been mobilised toward the community, though official statements from the Sokoto State Police Command have not yet been released. Efforts to stabilise the situation and initiate search-and-rescue operations were ongoing at the time of this report.
Banditry has been a persistent security challenge in parts of northwest Nigeria, with armed groups frequently targeting remote communities for kidnappings, killings and looting. Attacks such as the one in Dabagin Yari often exacerbate existing vulnerabilities in rural areas, where limited security presence and difficult terrain make rapid response difficult.
Family members and local volunteers have also been involved in efforts to locate missing residents and tend to the injured. Some of the wounded have reportedly been evacuated to nearby health facilities for urgent treatment, though many victims remain in improvised shelters awaiting help.
Until official casualty figures and abduction numbers are confirmed by security agencies, the full human toll of last night’s raid remains unknown. Community representatives appealed for reinforcements and humanitarian assistance, stressing the urgent need for protection and support as they cope with the aftermath of the violence.
Residents described the attack as one of the most devastating in recent memory for the area and urged authorities at the state and federal levels to prioritise greater security coverage for vulnerable rural communities.
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