At least 23 people have been killed in separate incidents across Borno and Sokoto states following renewed attacks by terrorists and bandits.
In Sokoto State, tragedy struck in Zalla Bango, a remote village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, where 10 people drowned in a boat mishap while fleeing bandit raids. The lawmaker representing Kwanar Kimba in the State House of Assembly, Sa’idu Ibrahim, also confirmed that six villagers were killed in a Tuesday attack on Kwanar Kimba after attempting to resist bandits who later fled. He said he had visited the community to commiserate with the bereaved families.
Meanwhile, in Borno State, Boko Haram insurgents stormed Banki community in Bama Local Government Area on Thursday night, killing five residents and injuring six others. The Information Officer of Bama Local Government, Babagana Abatcha, said the attackers rode in on motorcycles. “The terrorists attacked the community on Thursday night and killed five, injuring six,” Abatcha stated. He added that the injured were receiving treatment in hospitals across the border in Cameroon and that Local Government Chairman Modu Gujja had visited the families of the victims with financial support. “On behalf of the state Governor, Babagana Zulum, the local government chairman immediately visited the community and donated N500,000 each to families of those killed in the attack,” he said.
Residents said the military was overwhelmed by the sudden assault. One source noted, “The military tried their best, but as you know, it was an unexpected attack. They wreaked havoc before sufficient military deployment.” Another added that many locals fled into Cameroon fearing further incursions, recalling that insurgents had attacked Darajamal the previous week, which they said showed the terrorists were regrouping across Bama.
In a separate attack in Sokoto, suspected members of the Lakurawa bandit group killed the village head of Sanyinna, Mallam Murtala Sa’adu, 47, and his neighbour, Ibrahim Mai-Kudi, in Tangaza Local Government Area. Special Adviser to the Council Chairman, Garzali Raccah, confirmed the killings, saying the assailants struck around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, targeting the victims for their roles in supporting local vigilante groups. “Their involvement with vigilante groups angered the bandits, who had long warned against such participation,” Raccah explained. He said troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA later evacuated the bodies and strengthened patrols in the area. Residents described the killings as a warning from the Lakurawa faction, which had banned villagers from joining vigilante groups and threatened death to anyone who defied their orders.
The Sokoto State Police spokesman, Deputy Superintendent Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the Zalla Bango boat accident, noting that all 10 passengers were recovered dead and buried in line with Islamic rites on Friday. “The incident actually happened when the villagers were trying to escape from bandits. Unfortunately, all 10 passengers drowned, but their corpses have been recovered and buried accordingly,” Rufai said. Sabon Birni Local Government Chairman, Ayuba Hashimu, who visited the scene, explained that the accident occurred as villagers frantically tried to cross the river to evade attacks. “The boat hit the edge of a collapsed culvert, which led to its breaking and eventual sinking. We are doing everything possible to rescue survivors and retrieve bodies of the deceased,” he said.
Hashimu disclosed that motorised boats and life jackets had been distributed by the Sokoto State Government to flood-prone areas, including Sabon Birni, just a day before the tragedy. Eyewitnesses said most of the victims were women attempting to cross the river after Maghrib prayers on Thursday when the boat struck a collapsed culvert along the Goronyo–Sabon Birni road and sank. “Many residents have resorted to fleeing their communities, crossing the water to safer areas less accessible to the bandits,” they said.
A resident lamented that similar tragedies had occurred in recent months as villagers risked dangerous crossings to escape worsening insecurity. “This is not the first time we are witnessing such a tragedy this year,” he said.
Efforts to reach officials of the National Emergency Management Agency and the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency were unsuccessful, as neither responded to messages sent as of the time of filing this report.
