Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Carmen Diego
Armed bandits launched a late-night assault on Dan Gari community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving several residents injured, multiple persons abducted and a significant number of livestock rustled, according to local sources and security officials familiar with the incident.
The attack, which residents said occurred under the cover of darkness, marks the latest episode of violence in Sokoto’s eastern corridor, an area that has experienced recurring raids linked to armed groups operating across northwestern Nigeria. Witnesses reported that the assailants stormed the village in large numbers, firing sporadically to disperse residents before targeting homes and livestock enclosures.
Community members said several people sustained injuries while attempting to flee or resist the attackers. Those wounded were reportedly taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment, though authorities have not yet released an official casualty figure. The number of abducted residents remains unclear as families continue to account for missing relatives.
Dan Gari lies within Isa Local Government Area, a district that shares proximity with border regions historically vulnerable to cross-border movements of armed groups. Over the past few years, Sokoto State has witnessed repeated incursions by bandits engaged in kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling and attacks on rural settlements.
Local accounts indicate that livestock were a primary target during the raid. Cattle, sheep and goats were reportedly driven away by the attackers, dealing a severe economic blow to affected households. In agrarian communities such as Dan Gari, livestock represents both a source of income and long-term financial security, and large-scale rustling can destabilize livelihoods.
Security personnel were said to have been alerted shortly after the attack, though it remains unclear how quickly they arrived at the scene. Residents described the assailants as heavily armed and organized, consistent with patterns seen in previous raids across parts of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina states.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Sokoto State Police Command were ongoing at the time of reporting. However, security agencies in the state have repeatedly acknowledged the challenges posed by armed groups operating in remote forested areas and border communities.
In recent months, state authorities have emphasized intensified patrols and collaboration with federal security forces to curb banditry. Military operations targeting suspected hideouts have been conducted in parts of the northwest, but attacks on rural settlements persist, underscoring the complex security landscape in the region.
Community leaders in Isa Local Government Area have previously called for the establishment of additional security outposts and improved response times. They argue that remote villages remain vulnerable due to limited infrastructure and the vast terrain that security forces must cover.
The humanitarian impact of such attacks extends beyond immediate injuries and abductions. Families of those taken captive often face prolonged uncertainty and potential ransom demands. Meanwhile, loss of livestock can push already vulnerable households deeper into poverty, particularly amid rising food prices and economic strain nationwide.
Civil society organizations monitoring violence in northwestern Nigeria have documented a pattern in which bandit groups target villages perceived as having insufficient security presence or as retaliatory measures linked to local disputes. The precise motive behind the Dan Gari assault has not yet been established.
As residents assess the damage and search for missing relatives, there are renewed appeals for strengthened intelligence gathering and sustained security deployment in rural communities. Authorities are expected to issue a formal statement once investigations clarify the number of casualties, the scale of abductions and the estimated livestock losses.
The latest attack in Isa underscores the persistent insecurity affecting parts of Sokoto State and the broader northwest, where communities continue to navigate the dual burden of violent raids and economic hardship.
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