Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A fresh humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Sokoto State after suspected bandits abducted scores of internally displaced persons who had only just returned to their communities in the Tambuwal Local Government Area. The attack, which occurred around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, targeted the villages of Gasalodi and Tungar Barke, forcing families who had dared to rebuild their lives to flee once again—this time leaving their loved ones in the hands of kidnappers.
According to multiple reports from Naija News, Daily Trust, and The Point, the abductees were among those who had returned to their homes on Tuesday, July 14, after spending several weeks in displacement following earlier assaults. A resident of Jabo town, where many of the displaced had previously sought refuge, confirmed that the returnees had barely begun settling in when the gunmen struck. "They returned yesterday, but unfortunately some of them were abducted this morning. The bandits also carted away their livestock," the source told Daily Trust.
The attack exposed a chilling reality: the bandits had issued a prior warning that they would return if residents attempted to resettle. "They warned the residents that they would come back once they returned, and that is exactly what happened," a resident said. The assailants, who arrived in large numbers, rustled an unspecified number of livestock before escaping with the abducted victims. Another resident estimated that about 20 people were abducted during the raid, although an official figure is yet to be confirmed by authorities. A visit to Jabo town revealed scores of displaced residents seeking shelter in public schools, while others gathered along major roads after fleeing the renewed violence. The latest attack has compounded the humanitarian crisis, with many families forced to abandon their homes for a second time within weeks.
Among the displaced is Yarmagaji, a widow and mother of five from Tungar Barke, who told journalists that her children—all orphans—were among those kidnapped. She had been living in a public school for over a month, begging to feed her children after being displaced by previous attacks. "Since we arrived here about a month ago, I have been begging to feed them because I have no other means of survival," she lamented. She appealed to the Tambuwal Local Government Council and humanitarian agencies to urgently provide food and relief materials for displaced families.
At the General Hospital in Jabo, victims receiving treatment for injuries sustained during earlier bandit attacks expressed frustration over what they described as government neglect. Abubakar Muhammad, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his left hand during an attack on Babban Rafi village about three weeks ago, recounted how the bandits came on about 20 motorcycles and started shooting indiscriminately. "I tried to escape, but one of them chased me, ordered me to stop, and when I refused, he opened fire. Several bullets hit my hand and I lost consciousness," he said. Muhammad said he had been paying for his medical treatment without any government assistance. Another injured victim, Muhammad Sahabi, said he was transporting bags of grain on his motorcycle when the bandits attacked, shooting him in the hand. "My family has been responsible for all my hospital expenses," he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa'i, said he had yet to receive a briefing on the incident but assured that efforts are in place to rescue the victims. Anadolu Agency reported that the attack, which occurred in Gangara village in Sabon Birni LGA, saw gunmen storm a settlement housing displaced residents, killing three IDPs and abducting more than 20. The latest incident shows the growing vulnerability of internally displaced persons in Nigeria's northwest, where many have sought shelter in neighboring villages rather than formal displacement camps due to limited humanitarian support.
The attack has drawn a sharp rebuke from local leaders. Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State, had earlier this month urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise security over politics after a separate bandit attack claimed over 20 lives in the Tureta Local Government Area. On July 10, Tambuwal had visited Bodinga LGA to commiserate with victims of recent attacks, reiterating that the foremost responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property. "We are deeply concerned about what is happening here, across Sokoto State and indeed the entire country," he said at the time. Tambuwal had also previously demanded urgent security action after fresh bandit attacks claimed over 20 lives in Tureta.
The abduction of returning IDPs in Tambuwal underscores the brutal cycle of displacement that has come to define life in Nigeria's North-West. Residents say they warned authorities of looming threats but received no adequate protection, forcing them to become reluctant pawns in a cruel game of cat-and-mouse with armed gangs. The question now is how many more communities must endure such cycles of displacement before the safety and dignified return of IDPs becomes a national priority—and not just a campaign promise.
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