Four killed, one injured as lakurawa bandits attack Sokoto farming community

Four residents have been killed and one farmer injured following a brutal attack by suspected Lakurawa bandits on Sabiyo Village, located in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The attack occurred on Tuesday, as the armed assailants  wielding sophisticated firearms and moving on foot and motorcycles  first ambushed two farmers on their farmland, before storming the village to unleash further violence.

One of the farmers, Aminu Sama’ila, was shot in the neck and chest but survived and is currently receiving treatment, according to security sources who spoke with Zagazola Makama. The second farmer, Usman Sama’ila, is still missing, with search efforts ongoing.

After the initial ambush, the attackers reportedly proceeded into Sabiyo Village, where they opened fire indiscriminately and killed four villagers on the spot. 

The motive behind the attack mirrors previous violent patterns attributed to the Lakurawa bandits, a group notorious for targeting farming settlements during the planting season.

Troops of Operation Fansan Yanma, supported by police tactical units and local community guards, have since launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, combing bush paths and border routes linking Nigeria and Niger Republic.

The attack has further heightened fears of food insecurity and mass displacement across Sokoto’s rural border areas, as banditry continues to threaten farming activities during the crucial cultivation period.