Residents Live in Fear as Attacks Intensify Across Rural Communities
Tragedy struck again in Sokoto State as heavily armed bandits launched a brutal overnight raid on Alkalije village in Kilgori ward, Yabo Local Government Area, killing five people, including a pregnant woman, and leaving several others with life-threatening injuries.
The attackers, who stormed the quiet farming community in the dead of night, opened fire indiscriminately, sending terrified residents fleeing into nearby bushes. Eyewitnesses said the assault lasted for hours before the gunmen retreated, leaving behind scenes of devastation and grief.
Local sources confirmed that the victims, including the pregnant woman, were buried early this morning amid tears and prayers. “It was a massacre. They came shooting without mercy,” said a resident who narrowly escaped the attack. “We have been abandoned. We live in fear every night.”
The latest raid adds to the growing list of violent attacks that have plagued Sokoto’s rural communities in recent months. Villagers lament that despite repeated appeals, security presence remains minimal, and bandits continue to operate with near impunity.
“The people of Sokoto are tired of crying,” said another villager. “We are losing our families, our homes, and our peace. We need help — real help — from government and security forces.”
Residents are calling on Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, security agencies, and the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action to protect vulnerable communities from further bloodshed.
As the state mourns yet another senseless tragedy, fear and uncertainty hang heavy over Yabo and neighboring areas — where many now wonder not if the bandits will return, but when.
