At least 21 people were killed and 37 others abducted when heavily armed bandits stormed Tsamaye community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, in an attack that lasted from around 8:00 p.m. Monday until past 3:00 a.m. Tuesday. The assault also triggered a second tragedy when overloaded boats capsized as villagers tried to flee, leaving 18 people feared drowned.
The attack, which began on August 3, 2026, forced thousands of residents to abandon their homes, with fewer than 20 people now remaining in the village. More than 100 vehicles have transported displaced people out of the area, and surrounding settlements including Borai, Tsululu, Garin Tudu and more than a dozen others have also been emptied.
Bandits Go House-to-House, Burn Homes and Steal Livestock
Witnesses told Daily Trust that the bandits moved from house to house, compelling residents to identify wealthy households and point out where livestock were kept. Two homes were razed and animals stolen before the attackers withdrew. Residents identified three people confirmed killed as Kabiru Mallam Tanimu, Ayuba Mallam Hashim and Yakubu Mu'azu. Two houses belonging to Lawwali Ta'u Mai Chaji and a vigilante member named Hassan Hasken Halara were burnt to the ground.
One resident told journalists that relatives discovered the abductions when they tried calling their loved ones and the bandits answered. "When we called our relatives, the bandits answered the phones and told us they were the ones who abducted them. They said they had taken 37 people."
Boats Capsize as Villagers Attempt to Flee
The assault set off a second tragedy when scores of residents, on hearing that the gunmen were closing in, scrambled into boats to cross a nearby river. The overloaded vessels capsized. About 25 people, mostly women and children, were swept away by the current. Seven were pulled out alive, while 18 others are feared drowned, with families still searching for their missing relatives.
He added that many of those seized were not even inside the village at the time. Because of repeated past attacks, many families had taken to sleeping in surrounding farms and bushes to avoid being targeted. This time, the bandits searched through those same farms. "Most of those abducted were women and children. I personally saw three infants placed on the ground by the bandits while they led their mothers away."
Security Forces Fail to Intervene
A local vigilante member, who asked not to be named, said he alerted security operatives deployed in the community and asked them to join the effort to confront the gunmen. He said they declined, citing a lack of adequate equipment. The vigilante said the security forces urgently need Armoured Personnel Carriers to operate effectively across the difficult terrain.
The State Police spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said additional personnel had been deployed to the area. However, residents expressed frustration over the lack of response during the attack, echoing similar incidents in the region.
Previous Attack in Sabon Birni
In a related incident, suspected bandits stormed Lajinge village in Sabon Birni LGA at around 11pm on Saturday and operated for over four hours. Six people were burnt alive after gunmen poured petrol on a room where residents had taken shelter and refused to come out. Residents said security personnel stationed just 2km away did not respond to repeated distress calls throughout the entire attack.
The recurring attacks have left communities in Sokoto State in a state of fear, with many residents fleeing to safer areas. The lack of adequate security response has been a major concern, with vigilantes calling for better equipment and support to defend their communities.
