Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Bornet .k
At least 13 people have been killed in a fresh wave of suspected bandit attacks on communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, in one of the latest incidents to underscore the persistent insecurity affecting north-west Nigeria. The attacks, which occurred between Thursday evening, 16 July, and Friday morning, 17 July 2026, also left several people injured, with victims receiving treatment at nearby medical facilities.
According to residents, the attackers targeted Mazau, Turtsawa and Tsamaye communities after an earlier attempt to invade Unguwan Lalle was repelled by troops and local vigilantes. Community sources said the assailants killed six people in Mazau, four in Turtsawa, including two women, before ambushing farmers heading to their fields in Tsamaye on Friday morning, where three more people were killed, bringing the death toll to 13.
Residents believe the attackers are loyal to the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, whose network has been linked to repeated attacks across Sokoto and neighbouring states. Witnesses said the bandits retreated after encountering resistance from security forces at Unguwan Lalle but diverted their assault to nearby villages, where they unleashed deadly violence on civilians.
A resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the military and local vigilantes engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle lasting several hours before forcing them to retreat. He claimed the bandits evacuated the bodies of some of their members, making it difficult to determine the number of casualties suffered by the attackers. He also said soldiers later repelled another attempted attack during the burial of some of the victims.
The latest killings come amid renewed insecurity in Sabon Birni, where communities have endured repeated attacks, kidnappings and displacement in recent weeks. Earlier this month, suspected bandits linked to Bello Turji reportedly killed residents and abducted several women in Lajinge community, while separate attacks in the area also resulted in dozens of abductions and the death of a child.
As of the time of publication, the Sokoto State Police Command said it was still gathering details of the latest attacks. Police spokesperson DSP Ahmad Rufa'i said he had yet to receive a briefing from officers in the affected area. Meanwhile, community leaders have renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect residents and farmlands from continued attacks.
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