Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Armed bandits have killed two people and rustled livestock and motorcycles during an attack on Dukura community in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, the latest in a series of violent raids that have left communities across the state's eastern axis reeling and residents demanding stronger security intervention.
The attackers reportedly invaded the community on Monday morning and blocked the road linking Dukura and neighbouring communities to Tambuwal market, a commercial hub that serves the area. According to accounts from the scene, the bandits took away cows, camels, sheep and motorcycles belonging to residents, including some commercial motorcycle operators whose livelihoods depend on the vehicles. The incident caused panic among residents of Dukura, Dalijan and communities in Girkau Ward, including Zugu, Indire, Mazoji, Tungar Kabawa, Runtuwa, Jabga and Sabon Garin Zugu.
The Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the attack, saying security operatives responded after receiving information about the incident. "Immediately we received the information, our men moved to the area and engaged the bandits in gunshots, forcing them to retreat," Rufai said. "Unfortunately, before the arrival of the police, the bandits had already killed two people and made away with some animals." The police spokesman said efforts were ongoing to ascertain further details about the incident and strengthen security in the affected communities.
The attack has renewed concerns over the security situation along the Kebbe-Tambuwal axis, where residents have faced repeated threats from armed groups. Kebbe Local Government Area has been a flashpoint for bandit activity throughout 2026. In early September, bandits killed five residents and injured three others in an attack on Girkau community, days after imposing a ₦40 million levy on Kebbe town. The levy, described by residents as an extortion demand, was accompanied by threats to overrun the community if it was not paid. In August, at least 22 people, including the Chief Imam of Ungushi Izala Jumu'at Mosque, were killed in an attack on Ungushi community in the same local government area. Earlier in September, bandits abducted an Independent National Electoral Commission staff member during a raid on Girekau Village, further underscoring the reach of criminal networks in the area.
The violence in Kebbe is part of a broader pattern of banditry and terrorism that has engulfed Sokoto State and the wider North-West region. The Lakurawa militant group, which has links to the Islamic State Sahel Province, has been active in communities along the Nigeria-Niger border, and security forces have clashed repeatedly with the group in Sokoto and Kebbi states. A confidential security report prepared for the United Nations and seen by AFP said Lakurawa fighters raided the Fesken Rafi community in Kebbi State's Arewa district near the border with Niger in June 2026. In August, the Defence Minister, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, directed troops engaged in counter-terrorism operations not to wait for orders before engaging bandits and terrorists, saying the military must act decisively to restore order.
The Sokoto State Government has taken a series of measures in response to the crisis. Governor Ahmed Aliyu has unveiled security assets worth N27.1 billion, including armoured vehicles and tactical equipment, and approved N1.76 billion for the procurement of 1,000 motorcycles to enhance the mobility of security agencies. The governor also transmitted a bill to the State House of Assembly seeking stiffer penalties for informants who collaborate with bandits. "We must not allow criminals to dictate the terms of our existence. The fight against banditry requires the collective effort of every citizen," Aliyu said during a security briefing in July. The state government has repeatedly called on politicians and other stakeholders to stop politicising insecurity, stressing that the fight against banditry should not be reduced to a partisan issue.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, has also intervened, calling for a stronger resolve to tackle the security challenges in the state. He made the call when he received Governor Aliyu and the General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto, at his palace in August. The traditional ruler pledged the continued cooperation of the Sultanate Council with security agencies, saying religious and traditional leaders had a duty to support efforts to restore peace.
Residents of the affected communities have appealed to the Federal Government and the Sokoto State Government to strengthen security presence in the area. A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity said the repeated attacks had left residents living in fear and forced many to consider abandoning their homes. "We are farmers and herders. We cannot continue to live like this. Every day, we wake up not knowing whether we will see the next morning. The government must do more to protect us," he said.
The Nigerian Army has said it remains committed to flushing out bandits from Sokoto State, with troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA neutralising scores of terrorists in recent operations. In one operation in late August, troops intercepted armed bandits in Maikujeru community, engaging them in a firefight that forced the criminals to abandon rustled livestock and motorcycles. The army has urged residents to provide credible intelligence to support its operations, stressing that the military cannot succeed without the cooperation of local communities.
For the people of Dukura and the surrounding communities, Monday's attack is a painful reminder of the fragility of their security. The bandits struck in the morning, when residents were beginning their day, and blocked the road that connects them to the market where they buy and sell. Two people are dead, and dozens of families have lost livestock and motorcycles that represent their savings and their means of survival. The police say they are investigating and that security has been strengthened. But for a community that has seen little respite from violence, the assurances ring hollow. The question on everyone's mind is not whether the bandits will return, but when.
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