Deadly Mosque Raid in Sokoto Community
At least three worshippers were killed inside a mosque in Tsamaye village, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, when bandits launched a brazen attack on Tuesday evening, July 28, 2026. The assailants, arriving in large numbers around 8:30pm, also abducted an unknown number of residents and spent over six hours looting and destroying property before fleeing at about 3:00am.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Daily Trust that villagers recovered the bodies of seven victims on Wednesday morning after the attackers left. Three of the deceased were killed inside the mosque during the assault. The source noted that all seven victims were displaced persons who had earlier fled from neighboring communities due to persistent bandit attacks.
Attackers Overpower Security Post, Loot and Burn
The eyewitness described how the bandits first surrounded the security operatives stationed in the community, opening fire on them and preventing them from responding. “They laid siege to their location, preventing them from coming out, while other members of the group moved from house to house, rustling livestock, looting valuables and abducting residents,” he said.
According to the resident, the attackers broke into several shops, looted goods, set a vehicle ablaze, and burnt two shops before departing. The exact number of those abducted could not be immediately established because many residents fled into nearby bushes during the chaos. “We believe some people escaped because of the confusion. It is only later today that we may be able to ascertain the actual number of those abducted,” he added.
Livestock Rustled and Abductions Confirmed
The bandits also carted away an unspecified number of livestock. Of the seven killed, two were indigenes of Tsamaye, while the remaining five were displaced persons from surrounding communities who had sought refuge in the village. The abduction of at least three people was confirmed after relatives called their phone numbers and the bandits answered, confirming that the victims were in their custody.
The eyewitness lamented that the security operatives stationed in the village were caught unawares, allowing the bandits to surround and pin them down, thereby preventing any rescue effort. “Our security personnel have always been doing their best to protect us and even assist neighboring communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area. This time, however, the bandits took them by surprise and prevented them from coming to our rescue,” he said.
The attack highlights the ongoing insecurity in parts of Sokoto State, where bandits frequently target remote villages, killing residents, abducting for ransom, and rustling livestock. Community members are calling for increased security deployment to prevent further incidents.
