Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Suspected bandits launched coordinated attacks on two communities in Sokoto State on the night of Saturday, June 27, 2026, exploiting heavy rainfall, strong winds, and poor visibility to carry out a series of deadly raids that left at least two people dead and several others abducted. The attacks, which occurred in Kurawa village, Sabon Birni Local Government Area, and Garin Zago community in Tara Ward, have deepened fears of escalating insecurity across the state, with residents lamenting the absence of security intervention during the assaults.
The first attack targeted Kurawa village, where the bandits reportedly remained in the community for approximately two hours and 30 minutes, according to local sources. The assailants, taking advantage of the harsh weather conditions that limited visibility and muffled the sound of gunfire, moved from house to house, killing at least one resident, identified as Sabi'u, and abducting several others. Homes and properties were looted during the raid, and residents were left to flee into the night with whatever they could carry.
At roughly the same time, another attack was reported in Garin Zago community in Tara Ward. In this assault, Salisu Adamu was reportedly killed, and another victim was shot and wounded. The bandits, who operated with impunity, were able to carry out their attacks without any reported intervention from security forces, vigilantes, or forest guards, according to community sources. The absence of security response has sparked outrage among residents, who have repeatedly called for improved security in the area.
The attacks come amid growing insecurity in Sokoto State, where bandits have escalated their activities in recent weeks. The assault on Kurawa village is the latest in a series of attacks in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, which has become a hotspot for banditry and kidnapping. Just last week, bandits killed three displaced persons who had returned to their village in Gangara, Sabon Birni LGA, to retrieve food items left behind after fleeing repeated attacks. The displaced persons, now taking refuge in Sabon Birni and Isa towns, said worsening hardship forced them to return to the community. In a separate incident on June 17, bandits killed two persons and abducted 17 others, including three orphaned children, in attacks across communities in Sabon Birni and Wurno local government areas.
The reliance on weather conditions to carry out attacks is a known tactic used by bandits in the region. In previous incidents, witnesses have reported that heavy rainfall helped assailants carry out operations and escape with their captives. The Sokoto State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the latest attacks, as calls to the command's spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
The Saturday night attacks on Kurawa and Garin Zago have renewed calls for urgent government intervention to address the security crisis in Sokoto State. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected. May those abducted return home safely, and may this cycle of violence finally come to an end.
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