Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Chairman of Wurno Local Government Area in Sokoto State, Alhaji Abba Isa Sadiq Achida, has raised a harrowing alarm that more than 100 innocent residents are currently being held captive by bandits, as thousands of others have abandoned their homes nightly, transforming the council area into a patchwork of ghost settlements and internally displaced camps. In a stark disclosure to journalists over the weekend, the chairman painted a picture of a populace under sustained siege, where the activities of terrorist groups have become "almost a daily affair," leaving the people unable to sleep "with their two eyes closed."
The frightening reality in Wurno LGA is that every evening, a mass exodus unfolds. According to Chairman Sadiq Achida, thousands of terrified residents who can no longer sleep peacefully in their own towns and villages now troop daily to Achida town, which has become a relative safe haven in the sea of anarchy. "They come in the evenings, only to sleep in Achida town and move back to their abodes during the daytime," the chairman explained. These displaced citizens are forced to take shelter in primary schools and any available open space they can find, living under the constant weight of psychological and emotional trauma.
The chairman's urgent address to the press on Friday, April 24, 2026, was driven by the relentless pace of the attacks, which have been concentrated in the Sokoto East Senatorial Zone. The LGA has become a persistent hotspot, with residents living in a state of high alert. Mr. Sadiq Achida lamented the unacceptable scale of the tragedy, stating, "Several innocent lives and precious property have been lost. The killings and abductions are way too much. As of today, we currently have nothing less than 100 innocent people in the hands of the dastardly bandits across the LGA."
This crisis is not a sudden development but the culmination of a protracted period of terror. Just a week before the chairman's statement, on the night of April 17, 2026, the community of Achida itself came under a heavy bandit attack around 11 p.m. In that brutal assault, armed men killed two residents and abducted 23 others, a group that included women, a 10-year-old boy, and local vigilantes. The assault on Achida is part of a pattern of escalating violence, with the LGA recording numerous similar incidents in the recent past. Another recent attack saw gunmen abduct a bride, her bridesmaids, and several other women just hours before a scheduled wedding ceremony.
The bandits have not only targeted homes but have also established dominance over transportation routes. The council chairman disclosed that the criminals now have the audacity to blockade major roads in the early parts of the night, particularly on market days for the towns of Achida and Goronyo. This brazen tactic effectively isolates communities, preventing travel and cutting off access to essential supplies and emergency services, while allowing the attackers to move freely.
Despite the intensity of the siege, the people of Wurno have not completely surrendered to despair. Just days before the chairman's nationwide appeal, residents of Achida community, in collaboration with local vigilantes, successfully repelled another bandit attack. In a swift and coordinated response, the villagers mobilized and confronted the armed assailants, forcing them to retreat. The clash resulted in the death of one suspected bandit and injuries to several others who fled into the surrounding bush. This local victory, however gallant, highlights the desperate reality that communities are being forced to defend themselves with limited resources in the absence of adequate official security.
The chairman has also pointed to the existence of a dangerous fifth column aiding the terrorists, lamenting the activities of unpatriotic informants who live within the communities and feed intelligence to the bandits. This collaboration between the terrorists and some local actors has been a major impediment to security operations. However, he noted that the communities have risen to this challenge as well, now actively working to provide credible intelligence to the security agencies and forming more vigilante groups to protect their neighbourhoods. The state government-sponsored Community Guards, while offering invaluable service, are also stretched thin and require reinforcements.
In his formal address, Chairman Sadiq Achida issued a direct and urgent appeal to the Federal Government and the security hierarchy. He stressed that the situation is now beyond the capacity of local and state-level forces alone. His primary request is for the establishment of a "super military camp" in Achida town to serve as a robust base for launching operations and protecting the citizenry. He also called for the establishment of more police divisions and outposts across the area, specifically naming Achida, Kwargaba, and Chacho as priority locations. He emphasized that any new post must be "fully staffed and equipped to make them efficacious."
The feelings of betrayal and abandonment are palpable among the people of Wurno. They are trapped in a terrifying cycle: after days of toiling on their farms and running their small businesses, they are forced to become refugees in their own land every evening. As they huddle for safety in crowded schoolrooms in Achida town, the psychological and emotional trauma described by their chairman is a daily reality. The situation in Wurno LGA is a stark and urgent warning. If the federal government does not heed the call for a permanent, strategic military presence and a massive reinforcement of police power, the area risks not only a complete economic collapse but a catastrophic humanitarian crisis that could dwarf the current numbers of dead, wounded, and captive.
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