At least four persons have been killed and 10 others reportedly abducted following a fresh bandit attack on Riji village in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, heightening fears among residents of renewed violence in the area.
The incident, which occurred late Thursday night, has thrown the community into mourning and anxiety, with residents calling on the State and Federal governments to urgently reinforce security to prevent further attacks.
A resident of the village, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers stormed Riji village in large numbers at about 10:00 pm, catching residents off guard.
According to the source, the bandits infiltrated the community through an alternative route and ambushed villagers before launching the attack.
“You know every night, we usually hide and remain alert in order to protect our families and property. But unfortunately, on Thursday night, they entered our village through a route best known to them,” the source said.
He explained that when gunshots were heard, some residents attempted to repel the attackers.
“When we heard gunshots, we quickly engaged them in a fierce gun duel, which forced them to flee,” he added.
The source disclosed that 10 persons were abducted during the attack, comprising eight women and two men.
He further said that three persons were shot dead during the assault, while a young boy lost his life in an attempt to hide in a safe place to escape the violence, bringing the death toll to four.
The resident alleged that the attack may have been carried out with the connivance of informants, noting that the bandits escaped through routes “best known only to residents of the village.”
He also claimed that the bandits were sighted later that night moving around Riji village and nearby communities, a development that has raised fears of possible further attacks.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said the command was not yet aware of the incident but would investigate the matter and respond accordingly.