Bandits Pose as Soldiers in Deadly Raid
No fewer than four people were killed and several others injured when suspected bandits dressed in military uniforms attacked Unguwan Lalke community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The assailants, estimated to be about 200, stormed the village from multiple directions, looting homes and shops and rustling an unspecified number of livestock.
The attack began around 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026, and lasted until 2 a.m. Monday, according to residents. Despite the presence of security personnel earlier in the day, the bandits operated for nearly six hours unchallenged.
Residents Deceived by Military Disguise
Residents initially believed the attackers were security personnel due to their uniforms. “We thought they were soldiers because they were wearing military uniforms. They surrounded the village, opened fire on anyone trying to escape, ransacked our homes, carted away our livestock and looted goods from our shops,” a resident told Daily Trust.
The victims were identified as Bilyaminu Wakkala and Danbaki Tulunawa, along with two others from the nearby Kongurus village. According to residents, the two from Kongurus usually spent the night in Unguwan Lalle due to persistent insecurity in their community before returning home during the day.
Timing of Attack Exploited Security Gap
The attack occurred less than an hour after troops who had responded to a separate bandit incident withdrew from the village. A resident recounted that the military arrived in two armoured vehicles after bandits allegedly killed a farmer earlier that day. “The soldiers responded quickly and stayed in the village until about 8 p.m. before returning to their base. Just a few minutes after they left, the bandits came back wearing military uniforms,” he said.
He added that the attackers struck while residents were observing the Isha prayer, avoiding the main road where a military checkpoint was located. “They entered through other routes and positioned some of their men with RPGs at strategic locations. The first victim was a motorcycle rider, followed by three others who tried to flee. They searched our houses repeatedly and even threatened to shoot my mother when she came out of her room,” the resident recounted.
Police Confirm Earlier Killing but Not the Attack
The spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, confirmed the killing of a farmer in the area but said he had not been briefed on the reported community attack. “I have received a report confirming the killing of one person in the area on Sunday. However, I have not yet been briefed about the other reported attack on the community,” he stated.
