Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that recent bandit attacks in the Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State have displaced thousands of residents, forcing them to flee their homes in search of safety. The agency made the disclosure in a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, following an assessment conducted by its Sokoto Operations Office on persons affected by the violence. The assessment was triggered by a series of attacks recorded on June 7 and June 9, 2026, in the Dan Gulbi community, where several lives were reportedly lost following incursions by armed bandits.
According to NEMA, its findings revealed widespread displacement across affected communities, with many residents taking refuge in public facilities and neighbouring settlements. “Findings from the assessment revealed that the recurring attacks have displaced thousands of residents, forcing them to flee their homes in search of safety,” the agency said. Many of the displaced persons are currently sheltering in Tureta town, particularly at JNI Primary School and Abdulbaki Model Primary School, while others have moved to Tsamiya Ward, Duma Ward, and neighbouring communities within Tureta Local Government Area. Some residents have also taken refuge in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
During the assessment, NEMA said reports also emerged of another attack on the Achi Asha Ruwa community, where additional casualties were reportedly recorded. “The assessment further indicated that thousands of people have been affected by the violence, with some individuals sustaining varying degrees of injuries. Several shops and means of livelihood were also reportedly looted and destroyed during the attacks, worsening the humanitarian situation in the affected communities,” the agency stated. The agency noted that access to some of the affected communities remains difficult due to ongoing security challenges, which it said has limited humanitarian assessment and response efforts. “The assessment team observed that access to several affected locations remains difficult due to the prevailing security challenges, posing significant constraints to humanitarian assessment and response operations,” NEMA said.
The attacks on Dan Gulbi and Achi Asha Ruwa communities follow a pattern of escalating violence in Sokoto State. Earlier in June, a separate attack on Dangulbi village in Tureta LGA killed at least 20 people and triggered a mass exodus from the community and nearby settlements. In that incident, which occurred on June 4, residents described the assault as one of the most devastating in recent months. Prior to that, on June 1, gunmen killed 17 people in the same local government area, a massacre that Amnesty International condemned and demanded a thorough investigation into. The recurring attacks have forced hundreds of families to abandon their homes and livelihoods, compounding an already dire humanitarian situation in a region that has long struggled with banditry, kidnapping, and cattle rustling.
The agency said it is working with relevant stakeholders and security agencies to determine the full extent of the impact and support humanitarian interventions for affected populations. NEMA reiterated its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities affected by emergencies and disasters while advocating sustained efforts to address the humanitarian consequences of insecurity across the country. The situation remains fluid, and humanitarian agencies are calling for improved access to affected communities to deliver critical relief to the thousands of displaced persons now living in precarious conditions. For the people of Tureta and surrounding communities, the attacks have not only claimed lives but have also shattered the fragile peace that many had come to rely on, leaving behind a trail of destruction that will take years to repair.
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