Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Barely 48 hours after a bandit raid claimed 17 lives in the Dangulbi community of Tureta Local Government Area, Sokoto State, the same village was attacked again on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, with residents reporting that more than 20 people may have been killed and several houses razed. The back‑to‑back assaults, which began on Sunday, 1 June, have forced hundreds of villagers to flee their homes and triggered urgent calls for stronger security measures from political leaders, including former Governor and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Residents said heavily armed bandits riding motorcycles stormed the community at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday, firing indiscriminately and forcing villagers to flee. “They came and started shooting at us. People ran in different directions to save their lives,” a resident told reporters, adding that the attackers remained in the village for hours and set several houses ablaze. The attack occurred just two days after bandits reportedly invaded the same community on Sunday, killing 17 people, including visitors who had travelled to Dangulbi for Eid‑el‑Kabir celebrations, and looting dozens of shops.
The gunmen, who were believed to have come from camps in neighbouring Zamfara state’s Bagega village – a known bandit stronghold – returned a third time late on Tuesday to “burn down the whole village”, according to Dalhatu Dangulbi, the councillor for the village, who lost his brother and uncle in the attacks. Many people were injured, and the attackers abducted several residents from two nearby villages as they withdrew. However, the kidnapped villagers escaped during a rainstorm hours later, a security report seen by AFP said.
Reacting to the renewed violence, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, who represents Sokoto South in the National Assembly, described the repeated attacks as “painful, unacceptable, and a direct assault on the peace and security of our communities”. In a statement issued on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, the former governor expressed deep sorrow over the killings, destruction of property and displacement of residents. “These repeated attacks on innocent citizens are painful, unacceptable and a direct assault on the peace and security of our communities,” Tambuwal said.
He extended condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. He also prayed for the safe return of all persons abducted during the attacks. “Our people deserve to live in safety and pursue their livelihoods without fear,” he added, urging security agencies to intensify efforts to restore peace and strengthen protection for vulnerable communities across the Sokoto‑Zamfara axis.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, also expressed concern over the fresh assault, describing it as evidence of the urgent need to review existing security strategies in the state. According to him, the recurring attacks on rural communities highlight the vulnerability of residents despite repeated calls for decisive action against criminal elements. “Leadership is tested most during moments of crisis. Citizens expect not only action but also empathy and reassurance from those entrusted with the responsibility of governance,” Dan’iya said in a statement. He called for enhanced intelligence gathering, stronger collaboration among security agencies, and increased protection for vulnerable communities.
Amnesty International, in a statement on Tuesday, condemned the killings and demanded a probe. The rights group said the attacks “underscore the continuing failure of the authorities to protect communities from relentless attacks by gunmen”. The organisation called for justice for victims and warned that repeated violent attacks were undermining farming and threatening the livelihoods of “thousands of people”.
The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed receiving a distress call from Tureta and said personnel had been deployed to the area. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said a comprehensive report was being awaited from officers on the ground. The police also said they had foiled a separate bandit attack in Tureta and recovered 25 rustled cattle during a joint security operation.
For the residents of Dangulbi, the immediate concern remains their safety and the uncertainty surrounding a return to their homes. A prominent religious leader in Tureta told our correspondent on condition of anonymity: “The whole of Dangulbi is empty now; most people have had to sleep in the forest since Monday and Tuesday nights, and some are moving towards the township settlement. So far, no good security; the area is too big for security men to cover. Our people don’t have enough weapons to fight back, so the best solution is to run.”
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