Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
At least seven people have been confirmed dead and several others abducted after a large contingent of bandits, believed to be loyal to the notorious kingpin Bello Turji, launched a devastating attack on Tsamaye village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The assault, which began at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, lasted for more than six hours until around 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, with the attackers splitting into two groups—one to neutralise security personnel and the other to terrorise the community.
According to eyewitness accounts, the bandits arrived in large numbers and immediately surrounded the security operatives stationed in the village, opening fire and effectively pinning them down. While the security forces were trapped and unable to respond, other members of the gang moved from house to house, rustling livestock, looting valuables, and abducting residents. A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity told Daily Trust: "We were sitting after the Isha'i prayer when the bandits invaded our village. They first surrounded the security operatives stationed in the community and opened fire on them. They laid siege to their location, preventing them from coming out, while other members of the group moved from house to house, rustling livestock, looting valuables and abducting residents".
The attackers broke into several shops, looted goods, set a vehicle ablaze, and burnt two shops before withdrawing from the village. Villagers recovered the bodies of seven victims on Wednesday morning. Three of the victims were reportedly killed inside a mosque where worshippers had gathered after the Isha prayer. According to residents, two of those killed were indigenes of Tsamaye, while the remaining five were displaced persons from neighbouring communities who had fled persistent bandit attacks and sought refuge in the village. The abduction of at least three people had been confirmed after relatives called their phone numbers and the bandits answered, confirming the victims were in their custody. However, the exact number of abducted residents could not immediately be established because many villagers fled into nearby bushes during the attack.
A resident defended the security personnel stationed in Tsamaye, stating that they had previously protected the village and assisted neighbouring communities but were caught unawares and overwhelmed by the scale of Tuesday night's assault. He added: "Our security personnel have always been doing their best to protect us and even assist neighbouring communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area. This time, however, the bandits took them by surprise and prevented them from coming to our rescue".
The attack is widely attributed to the network of Bello Turji, one of Nigeria's most wanted bandit leaders operating in the North-West. Turji, who has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on security operatives in parts of Sokoto and Zamfara states, has remained a persistent threat despite repeated military offensives targeting his network. In a video released earlier in June 2026, Turji claimed responsibility for recent attacks and also declared his willingness to engage in peace negotiations with the government.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, confirmed that the command was aware of the incident but said it was still awaiting comprehensive details. "We are aware of the incident but we are yet to get full details as we await it," Rufai said.
The Tsamaye attack is the latest in a series of renewed assaults by bandits in Sabon Birni, a local government area that has remained one of Sokoto State's worst-hit regions. Armed groups have repeatedly attacked villages, killed residents, abducted civilians, and rustled livestock despite the deployment of security personnel. Earlier in July 2026, at least 13 people were killed in separate attacks on three communities in Sabon Birni. In another incident on July 27, suspected bandits dressed in military uniforms attacked Unguwan Lalle community in the same LGA, killing four people.
The Tsamaye attack underscores how bandits increasingly neutralise local security responses by first surrounding military, police, or vigilante positions before spreading through communities, leaving displaced people exposed even after fleeing earlier violence. The attack has reignited calls for more robust security measures in the region, as residents question how many more communities must suffer repeated attacks before lasting security measures are implemented. As the community of Tsamaye mourns its dead and searches for those still missing, the attack serves as yet another grim reminder of the escalating insecurity in Nigeria's North-West.
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