At least 20 people have been killed following a deadly attack by armed bandits on Dangulbi community in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State, in what residents described as one of the worst assaults on the area in recent months.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday morning, left scores of residents displaced as gunmen reportedly stormed the community in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately, looting shops and forcing villagers to flee into nearby forests.
Local sources said the attackers, who arrived on motorcycles, invaded the village between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., opening fire on residents and causing widespread panic.
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Residents said many of those killed were visitors who had travelled to the community for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. Among the victims were men, women and youths caught in the surprise assault.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the attackers operated unhindered for several hours, preventing community members from recovering bodies or attending to the wounded.
“They started shooting immediately they entered the village. People ran in different directions, but many could not escape,” the resident said.
Sources alleged that the assailants had moved through neighbouring communities before converging on Dangulbi, where they carried out the attack and looted several shops. Some residents were reportedly abducted during the raid, although several later escaped amid confusion caused by a heavy rainstorm.
The attack triggered a mass exodus from Dangulbi and nearby settlements, with many residents seeking refuge in safer communities across Tureta and neighbouring local government areas.
Community leaders have called on the Federal Government and Sokoto State Government to strengthen security presence in the area, warning that repeated attacks are threatening livelihoods and disrupting farming activities ahead of the rainy season.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, confirmed awareness of the incident and said security agencies were working to restore normalcy and prevent further attacks.
The latest assault adds to growing concerns over the worsening security situation in parts of Sokoto State, where rural communities continue to face recurring attacks by armed groups despite ongoing security operations.
